Final Democratic Republic of the Congo bun

>>12842749 DRC President announces dissolution of the ruling coalition: Nixon Katembo (video)

>>12842820 Discussion on DRC president Felix Tshisekedi's visit to South Africa (video)

>>12842833 DRC takes over as AU chair (video)

>>12842861 President Cyril Ramaphosa hands over AU chairpersonship to DRC President Felix Tshisekedi (video)

>>12849469 THE CONGO: KABILA AND TSHISEKEDI, A COALITION IN PERIL

>>12850672 THE WAR IN CONGO (Full Documentary) (video)

>>12851307 South African peacekeeping troops accused of torture in DRC (video & related article)

Final EFF & Brackenfell bun

>>11563469 Fists fly outside Brackenfell High School as tensions spike between locals and the EFF (video)

>>11563506 VLOG 57: #EFF confronted by angry #Brackenfell school parents, as community defends kids & families! (video)

>>11683345 The EFF Brackenfell Protest is a Trap (2020) (video)

>>11689240 Brackenfell: SAPS asked to investigate ‘one settler, one bullet’ threats"

>>11694027 Julius Malema attacking the Oppenheimers, Rupperts and Ramaphosa

>>11713944 “VLOG 60: Police act against EFF in Brackenfell!” (video)

>>11714497 “Anthony Hall All SA Lives Matter Founder - "My Message to Brackenfell"

>>11715096 Man arrested for asking EFF why they hate him so much (video)

>>12066486 EFF, "a radical and militant economic emancipation movement"

>>12832954 Nkandla Tea Party | Zuma and Malema spill the tea

>>12841749 BLF says it does not trust Julius Malema ahead of meeting with Jacob Zuma (video)

>>12947489 EFF leader reacts to President Ramaphosa's SONA (video)

Final South Africa Border Issues bun

>>12327677 Hundreds of Zimbabweans flood into SA amid Beitbridge chaos (video)

>>12329365 Lebombo Border Post with Mozambique Situation (tweet)

>>12399986 Humanitarian crisis brewing at Beitbridge border post (video)

>>12400030 Beitbridge Border Post Current Situation (video)

>>12400084 Zimbabweans crossing Limpopo crocodile Infested river, coming to South Africa (video)

>>12650009 UN concerned about humanitarian crisis in northern Mozambique (video)

>>12708271 Militants in Mozambique - Make No Demands (video)

>>12934814 Truck drivers fear for their safety at SA borders (video)

>>12944061 Many Zimbabweans, hunger and a lack of access to affordable supplies is a bigger worry” – Illegal immigrants (video)

Final South Africa – Deep State Connections bun

>>11591368, >>11692851, >>11693338, >>11707232, >>11713692, >>1196308, >>11962336, >>11962364 Oppenheimer Family

>>11725445 “The Hidden Story Of The Demonization & Assassination In 1966 Of One Of The Greatest Statesmen Of Our Era: South African Prime Minister Henrik Verwoerd.”

>>11767665, >>11766576, >>11780695 Johan Rupert (Articles and Videos)

>>11795712, >>11780291 World Economic Forum

>>11970262, >>11973573, >>12157620, >>12159952 George Soros

>>12481698 National Health Insurance Plan for South Africa (attached pdf)

>>12538475 Gates Foundation and biopiracy

>>12553654 Gates Foundation to Invest $5 Billion in Africa Over Five Years

>>12891185 George Soros and the Open Society Foundations in South Africa (video)

>>12932183 The Safari Club was a covert alliance of intelligence services across the world (video)

>>12932190 A Coalition Of Criminals, The Safari Club, BCCI Bank & The CIA (video)

Final South African Violence and Crime bun

>>11785032, >>11725883 Truck Attacks (Article and Video)

>>11785151 Incompetent and Corrupt Police (Article and Video)

>>11827638, >>12146749 South Africa’s Dark Criminal Underworld – Gangster’s Paradise (Videos and Article)

>>11890822, >>11828338, >>11828801 Violence Against Women (Videos)

>>12010792, >>12050847, >>11926657, >>11969661, >>11806678, >>11680417 Farm Murders, Livestock Theft, etc. in South Africa (Articles and Videos)

>>12081639 China’s Illegal Fishing in South African Oceans and Involvement in Africa

>>12105433, >>12105455, >>12116301, Taxi violence (Articles and Videos)

>>12105982 Illegal mining, turf wars and human trafficking (Article and Video)

>>12116170 Killing Kebble: An Underworld Exposed

>>12146798, >>12116170 “Hitmen for Hire: Exposing South Africa's Underworld” (Videos)

>>12158611, >>12148352, >>12092370, >>12092356 Looting (Videos)

>>12161391 “Igsaan & The Americans: The disturbing tale of a gang leader in Cape Town” (Video)

>>12168967, >>12169032, >>12169094 Rhino poaching (Articles and Video)

>>12171409, >>12146749 Local Gangs Linked to International Organised Crime (Videos and Article)

>>12183290 “Grim child murder figures in SAfrica spark outrage” (Video and Article)

>>12184048 South Africa: Widespread Xenophobic Violence – Human Rights Watch (Video and Article)

>>12346201 Teddy Mafia: Cele questions how ‘known gangster’ operated with impunity

>>12349672 Upsurge in the rate of Cash-in-Transit incidents - Gauteng

>>12349748 33 Farm attacks and 10 farm murders in South Africa – December 2020

>>12398832 South Africa's mandrax problem (video)

>>12444519 Incidences of Livestock Theft Including Cows Thrown Out of Moving Taxi

>>12652923 VLOG 73: Durban’s criminal underworld is frightening!

>>12707351 In Africa, concerns over rising police brutality (video)

>>12732786 National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) of South Africa intends to charge Commissioner of the South African Police Service

>>12729856 Woman and husband stripped and assaulted by South African Police when buying milk for daughter (video)

>>12820003 Crime in SA | Tracker vehicle crime index (video)

>>12830242 Poachers attack, burn down lodge belonging to aha group, Mpumalanga

>>12860158 This ‘new hijacking method’ is causing concern across SA (video)

>>12868179 6 SA cities make top 20 list of the most dangerous cities in the world

>>12880182 In FIREARM RIGHTS: GFSA’s [Gun Free South Africa] Myths

>>12891751 Police officers implicated in Gauteng taxi violence report (video)

>>12901503 Police accused of failing to act on complaints against SANDF

>>12901546 Mandela funeral scandal: Eastern Cape Health MEC and others released on bail

Final State Capture Inquiry bun

>>12721337 Politicisation and factionalisation of intelligence community: Mufamadi (video)

>>12721546 Dr. Sydney Mufamadi gives an explosive testimony (video)

>>12721572 Wayne Duvenage on Sydney Mufamadi's testimony (video)

>>12723259 Explosive claims about ANC at state capture inquiry (video)

>>12742123 Zuma implicated again (video)

>>12742304 Discussion on State Security Agency testimonies (video)

>>12743751 Identity of secret witness leaked (video)

>>12756139 State Security Agency under scrutiny (video)

>>12766702 Bantu Holomisa shares his experiences with the state intelligence (video)

>>12778769 State security agency alleged to have unlawfully provided guns to non-members (video)

>>12789526 State Security Agency | Calls for a shake-up (video)

>>12789625 Former Scopa chair appears (video)

>>12789651 Jacob Zuma defies ConCourt ruling, not appearing before Zondo

>>12819596 Hands off Zuma (video)

>>12819764 Khoza's claims of criticism threats

>>12820765 “State Capture | Evidence on Parliamentary oversight” for years (video)

>>12859900 Agrizzi – The Money and The Escape | Carte Blanche | M-Net” (video)

>>12859931 These are the main conspiracy theories about Gavin Watson's death” CEO of Bosasa (video)

>>12859953 The former Bosasa COO, Angelo Agrizzi in ICU (video)

>>12859960 Angelo Agrizzi gets emotional in ICU: ‘I’m not the same person I used to be’ (video)

>>12880702 Thabo Mbeki, Nelson Mandela and the Guptas

>>12901836 MKMVA conclude ‘very productive’ visit to Zuma

>>12934802 Zuma to be charged with contempt of court (video)

>>12935846 Ramaphosa bribed judges to win elections’ – Zuma hits back in Zondo rant

>>12975495 Zuma: A man of contradictions (video)

Notables are NOT endorsements

#2b

>>11591615 "Sperrgebiet: The National Park You Can’t Visit”

>>11669287 UN votes re: South West Africa to Namibia and recognising SWAPO control

>>11753406 “Tsafendas and the tapeworm“

>>11840330 South Africa listed as Corporation on SEC

>>11855954 South Africa Alpha Capital Management: Cayman Islands and Guernsey

>>11860394 Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, a CIA Front Organisation!?

>>11869804 Ramaphosa could face coup if Zuma is arrested for Zondo inquiry walkout, warns MKMVA's Maphatsoe

>>11887252 SA Army Infantry Formation Letter, Dated November 2020

>>11937697 Bertrand Russel, Eugenics, Socialism and the New World Order

>>11970262 Ford Foundation and the CIA Financing and Manufacturing "dissent" in America

>>11973573 ”The “Grassroots” Myth: “Liberal CIA” Network of “New Left” Foundations, Media and Activist Groups – Much More Than Just George Soros”

>>11999241 “Sustaining a Public Diplomacy Program on South Africa”, a 1985 Memorandum

>>12021029 CCP Member List (pdf)

>>12053970 Narysec, the NDR, and the GDR Constitution

>>12067014 Asijiki Coalition for the Decriminalisation of Sex Work (“Asijiki”)

>>12069970 Black Centric Forum Guerilla Training and BLF Pamphlet

>>12091253 These are the most-spoken languages in South Africa in 2019 (No Swahili)

>>12091618 SWEAT Funders (sex worker advocates, includes Doros' Open Society Foundation)

>>12222201 DIY Self-Cannibalism Kit - Ouroboros Steak

>>12236875 Bill Gates-backed plan to dim the sun quietly moves forward

>>12284931 Equatorial Guinea video bun

>>12297888 “Gated Development - is the Gates Foundation always a force for good?” (attached pdf)

>>12380252 Africa Finance Corporation Secures US$250 Million Capital Loan From US Government’s International Development Finance Corporation

>>12380296 The secret way South Africa’s toll fees are calculated

>>12424851 Dr. Cynthia McKinney: NATO GLADIO joined CIA, DEEP STATE to steal Presidential Election

>>12477686 EFF & Brackenfell bun

>>12568299 Benjamin de Rothschild, who oversaw the banking empire started by his father in 1953, has died.

>>12604152 Wouter Basson, apartheid’s ‘Dr. Death’, revealed to be working at a Mediclinic

>>12628697 IMF – Credit scoring based on internet searches and purchases

>>12650338 Joe Biden presidency: Here’s what the future holds for Africa

>>12682706 BEE totally destroys a prime grape farm in 10 years – De Doorns

>>12743427 Xiaomei Havard: Chinese-born MP ‘replacing Mthembu’ causes conflict

>>12802424 Angola bun

>>12802434 Updated Covid bun

>>12802443 Updated South Africa Border Issues bun

>>12802451 Updated South Africa – Deep State Connections bun

>>12804563 The efficacy of Q (NarrativeReframes via telegram)

>>12823127 Updated ANC bun

>>12823132 Updated South African Violence and Crime bun

>>12823135 Updated State Capture Inquiry bun

>>12852748 Nigerian economist poised be first African, first female WTO chief after Biden reverses Trump’s opposition

>>12869532 The shocking state of South Africa’s municipalities uncovered

>>12882382 Spendthrift Monarch’ [Tito Mboweni] in the dock for R249m of irregular expenditure by his finance ministry

>>12893270 Cartel Power Dynamics in Zimbabwe (with attached pdf)

>>12923552 South Africa's deadly involvement in the Saudi war on Yemen

>>12923613 South Africa and Saudi Arabia Arms Deals and More involving Mandela, Mbeki, etc

>>12927201 Guinea Declares Ebola Outbreak With at Least 3 Deaths

Notables are NOT Endorsments

#2a

videos

>>11552710, >>11552874 X22 dave explains quite simple (and link)

>>11714563 “What the SADF Has Become In 25 Years - South Africa”

>>11737824, >>11737845 Ace Magashule

>>11828871 Just how many wives does Jacob Zuma have, and who are they?

>>11830278 Zuma's memorable moments

>>11830820 Nando's Diversity Ad

>>11854830 South Africa’s poor education and UCT curates WEF’s “Strategic Intelligence”

>>11890987 Ramaphosa, “Sex work is essentially work as well.”

>>11901199 How Socialism Destroyed Africa (with excerpts)

>>11903629 SANDF to consider SAPS request for support

>>11903649 Massive Explosion at Engen Refinery in Durban

>>11912811 “Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is Occultism & Indoctrination”

>>11915075 Chaos in Nelson Mandela Bay local council meeting

>>11925968 You’ll Own Nothing”: UN-backed “Great Reset” Is Feudalism”

>>11950674 VLOG 63: Don’t be fooled by the perversion of language & meaning-of-words by “woke” Leftists!

>>11980480, >>11980500 In-Q-Tel: CIA’s Investment Capital Arm

>>12021165 China reportedly trying to make super soldiers; Gen Keane reacts (Fox Business)

>>12022210 “Facebook's independent fact checkers tied to Hillary Clinton, Communist China and George Soros (OAN)

>>12022515 Quick Update On The US And RSA

>>12070046 The Lari Massacre 1953 and the capture of Dedan Kimathi 1956 (Pathe')

>>12080054 The Cannibal Warlords of Liberia (Full Documentary)(history.com)

>>12081012 Africa Blood and Guts 1966 (Africa Addio)

>>12103929 “10 South African Celebs Who Are Sangomas”

>>12147549 Alec Hogg interviews Rob Hersov on coming home, the Ruperts & unseating the ANC

>>12240848 Why does News24 only report on White Racism?

>>12251975 Child-raping UN "Peace" Troops (NWO Military) Exposed

>>12283561 “Who Coined the Term "Useless Eaters"? - Questions For Corbett”

>>12297688 Gates Foundation accused of exploiting its leverage in Africa

>>12325647 SA diplomats behaving badly: DIRCO lumped with R10m bill for ‘property damage’

>>12589170 Loadshedding returns; Eskom's 3-month outlook - Free Marketeers (video)

>>12688259 BOOM: Trust In Mainstream Media Just Hit An All-Time Low

>>12723292 Malawi court's ruling against former President Mutharika: Daniel Mababa (video)

>>12729955 This Doctor is Proud He Caused a Suicide

>>12769250 Was Samora Machel assassinated by a conspiracy?

>>12801008 Swiss court finds Israeli businessman Beny Steinmetz guilty of corruption

>>12820535 Ford make biggest investment in South Africa in almost 100 years

>>12832758 Mandla Bothman is on the run fearing for his life after exposing corruption at Eskom in Mpumalanga

>>12882038 Zimbabwe's Economic Crisis | New report shows country's GDP is being robbed by cartels

>>12882171 Moody's raises warnings ahead of SONA

>>12900663 The ANC's LOYAL support base | Frans Cronje

>>12915277 The elephant in the room: Desensitization and how it affects us all

>>12915526 DIRCO | DIRCO's DG investigation underway” – Paid R118-million for non-existent piece of land in New York, United States

>>12943947 DRC begins mass Ebola vaccination drive

Internal Server Error keeps popping up

Dough

https://www2.qanonbin.com/paste/fppaHTdiq

This bake is a tough one anons

Here's what I had before the original #3 was filled by spam. If anons could repost those here that would be great

Democratic Republic of Congo Bun

>>12984398 DR Congo Conflict | More than 2 000 people killed in eastern DRC in 2020 (video)

>>12984413 MONUSCO’s [United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo] involvement in the DRC

Notables are NOT Endorsements

#3a

Videos

>>12984206 Ethiopia conflict | A humanitarian disaster stares Tigray region in the face

>>12984428 CRAM Survey: Hunger has worsened

>>12984723 Vaal river sewage crisis

“Ethiopia conflict | A humanitarian disaster stares Tigray region in the face, warn experts”- https://youtu.be/xsN4K9jZcFo

Interesting that the conflict in Ethiopia started on the day of the US elections, 3 November. Coincidence?

Also, he mentions Eritrea’s involvement and Sudan taking the opportunity to reclaim a disputed territory.

“Latest reports say pregnant women are amongst the tens of thousands of people in need of assistance in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, where fighting between the government and regional forces of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) is ongoing since November 2020. There are growing accusations of gross rights abuses on both sides. And, since the conflict erupted three months ago, nearly two million Ethiopians have been forced to flee the country's region, many arriving in neighboring Sudan with horrible injuries. We spoke to William Davison, who is the International Crisis Group's Ethiopia Senior Analyst earlier, to have him unpack the latest situation around fighting and the humanitarian crisis as it unfolds.”

“DR Congo Conflict | More than 2 000 people killed in eastern DRC in 2020”- https://youtu.be/4nHPp8DvsEo

[Conflict intensified from October 2020.]

“In 2020, the United Nations Refugee Agency, or UNHCR, and its partners registered a record of more than two-thousand civilians killed in three eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo or DRC. The deaths were recorded in Ituri, North Kivu and South Kivu. Attacks by armed groups are carried out on the suspicion of collaboration with other rebels, or the Congolese security forces. Some of these locations are under threat from multiple armed groupings. Civilians find themselves trapped in the middle. To tell us more, we're joined from Kinshasa by UNHCR Representative for the DRC, Liz Ahua.”

Noteworthy statement;

13:55 – “Quite naturally, we are also advocating for the regional powers including the African Union to play a role to ensure the DRC which is a vastly rich country, one of the richest on the planet, is able to look after its population.”

[She probably did not get the memo that the DRC president is now the chair of the AU. If nothing was done until this point, nothing will ever be done.]

15:04 – “So there will be an end to it [conflict] but not by DRC alone, it has to be with the co-operation with of the international community. It has to be with the cooperation, continued cooperation that being reinstated because as you know the UN has a mission here, MONUSCO, and so there has been engagement and that engagement has to be sustained until such a time that DRC is able to find peace and recover security and develop itself.”

MONUSCO’s [United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo] involvement in the DRC

Below are a few excerpts from their website, https://monusco.unmissions.org/en/background.

Following the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and the establishment of a new government there, some 1.2 million Rwandese Hutus — including elements who had taken part in the genocide — fled to the neighbouring Kivu regions of eastern DRC, formerly Zaïre, an area inhabited by ethnic Tutsis and others. A rebellion began there in 1996, pitting the forces led by Laurent Désiré Kabila against the army of President Mobutu Sese Seko. Kabila’s forces, aided by Rwanda and Uganda, took the capital city of Kinshasa in 1997 and renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

In 1998, a rebellion against the Kabila government started in the Kivu regions. Within weeks, the rebels had seized large areas of the country. Angola, Chad, Namibia and Zimbabwe promised President Kabila military support, but the rebels maintained their grip on the eastern regions. Rwanda and Uganda supported the rebel move¬ment, the Congolese Rally for Democracy (RCD). The Security Council called for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of foreign forces, and urged states not to interfere in the country’s internal affairs.

Following the signing of the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement in July 1999 between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and five regional States (Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda and Zimbabwe) in July 1999, the Security Council established the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) by its resolution 1279 of 30 November 1999, initially to plan for the observation of the ceasefire and disengagement of forces and maintain liaison with all parties to the Ceasefire Agreement. Later in a series of resolutions, the Council expanded the mandate of MONUC to the supervision of the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement and assigned multiple related additional tasks.

On 1 July 2010, the Security Council, by its Resolution 1925, renamed MONUC the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) to reflect the new phase reached in the country.

The new mission was authorized to use all necessary means to carry out its mandate relating, among other things, to the protection of civilians, humanitarian personnel and human rights defenders under imminent threat of physical violence and to support the Government of the DRC in its stabilization and peace consolidation efforts.

The Council decided that MONUSCO would comprise, in addition to the appropriate civilian, judiciary and correction components, a maximum of 19,815 military personnel, 760 military observers, 391 police personnel and 1,050 members of formed police units. Future reconfigurations of MONUSCO would be determined as the situation evolved on the ground, including: the completion of ongoing military operations in North and South Kivu as well as the Orientale provinces; improved government capacity to protect the population effectively; and the consolidation of state authority throughout the territory.

On March 27, 2018, the Security Council adopted the Resolution 2409 extending until March 31, 2019 MONUSCO's mandate in the DRC, including its intervention brigade’s. The Council also authorized a troop staffing level comprising 16,215 military personnel, 660 military observers and staff officers, 391 police officers and 1,050 members of the formed police units.

MONUSCO's strategic priorities were mainly to contribute to the following objectives: a) Protection of civilians; b) Support for the implementation of the December 31, 2016 agreement and the electoral process that led to the organization of the December 31, 2018 elections and a peaceful transfer of power.

In this resolution and for the first time, the Security Council called on the Secretary-General to develop a phased, progressive and comprehensive exit strategy in collaboration with the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Nations country team and other relevant stakeholders, so as to promote country’s ownership and gradually transfer tasks for the purposes of an orderly withdrawal by MONUSCO. [Yet there were issues with the elections >>12849469 ]

On December 18, 2020, the Security Council adopted the Resolution 2556 and decided to extend MONUSCO's mandate in the Democratic Republic of the Congo until December 20, 2021 and, on an exceptional basis and without setting a precedent or calling into question the agreed principles governing peacekeeping operations, by its intervention brigade.

[Yet the UN never resolved the conflict but were given more authority.]

“CRAM Survey: Hunger has worsened”- https://youtu.be/TX_D3dZfh-Q

“The latest CRAM survey found that hunger worsened despite welfare payments to fight the impact of COVID-19. eNCA's Jeremy Maggs and Devan Murugan discuss.”

“Vaal river sewage crisis”- https://youtu.be/3TDGpnZd7lA

“Vaal river polluted ‘beyond acceptable levels’, cabinet must intervene – SAHRC” - https://mg.co.za/special-reports/2021-02-18-vaal-river-polluted-beyond-acceptable-levels-cabinet-must-intervene-sahrc/ . Below are a few excerpts.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) sponsored this Mail & Guardian webinar and launched a report on the Gauteng Provincial Inquiry into the sewage problem of the Vaal River. Panellists included Professor Johann Tempelhoff, North-West University; Maureen Stewart, Vice-Chairperson, Save the Vaal Environment; Samson Mokoena, Co-ordinator, Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance; and Dhesigen Naidoo, Chief Executive of the Water Research Commission. The webinar was moderated by Shirley Mlombo, Senior Legal Officer, SAHRC.

The Vaal river, a source of water for about 19-million South Africans, is now polluted “beyond acceptable levels”, impacting on natural ecosystems and endangering the people’s health. This is according to a new report by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), released on Wednesday, the looks into the Vaal River’s sewage problem.

Experts weighing in on Wednesday said the report showed that the role of municipalities in managing water in the country should be re-evaluated, and that a human rights-based approach to water management more broadly should be adopted.

Among other examples, the reports indicated that the main sewers in Vanderbijlpark were blocked and that raw sewage had also seeped onto people’s properties.

“Kilolitres” of untreated sewage now flow into the Vaal as a result of “dilapidated” wastewater treatment plants, unable to process raw sewage, the inquiry found.

“The consequence is that the pollution is impacting natural ecosystems directly dependent on the water in and from the Vaal,” the report stated. The yellowfish population in the Vaal is also under threat of extinction because of the pollution, while livestock drinking the water have died. Raw sewage flowing into living areas is also a “major health hazard”, the report states. The situation has also impacted negatively on tourism in the area.

The commission found that the fact that raw sewage had flowed into the river for at least five years was a violation of a number of constitutional rights, including the constitutional right to human dignity and an environment that is not harmful to health or wellbeing.

The commission heard that the municipality had been let down by unprofessional service providers and that it suffered from a lack of skills. But the commission said it was the municipality’s responsibility to ensure that public funds were appropriately spent, and that appropriately qualified experts were available in South Africa.

Mokoena said access to clean water is a fundamental human right. “The capability of the state is key, because if the state cannot fulfil those basic human rights, then we are in a very, very serious situation,” he said.

Johann Tempelhoff said the problems with water management in South Africa were historical, leading to “significant lapses” in governance. Rapid urbanisation, the inability of municipalities to pay water boards, endemic poverty and a lack of technical know-how in government all contributed to the problem, he said.

In its report, the SAHRC acknowledged the legacy issues faced by Emfuleni and other municipalities. However, the report said there had been “extensive non-compliance at all spheres of government with legal frameworks”.

Dhesigen Naidoo, Chief Executive of the Water Research Commission, said there were 144 municipalities in the country delegated as water service authorities, of which Emfuleni was one. Of these 57 are classified as vulnerable or dysfunctional, while 72% don’t have staff with the full set of necessary skills to carry out their functions, Naidoo said

I am reposting this from South Africa #2 thread as it was not archived.

“Zuma: A man of contradictions”- https://youtu.be/jRAHzD08nNY

“Do as I say, and not as I do. Former president Jacob Zuma’s recent actions are a contradiction in terms for a man who twice swore to uphold the Constitution. What’s more, not so long ago, he was appealing to everyone to co-operate with the state capture inquiry. So, how did we get to the point where he might be jailed for not appearing at the commission? Michael Appel takes a look back.”

“State Capture | Police Minister visits Nkandla”- https://youtu.be/cqkpRUknhlo

“Police Minister Bheki Cele is visiting Former President Jacob Zuma in Nkandla, while MK veterans stand on guard outside the residence.”

“When Zuma met Cele: JZ jokes about ‘arrest warrant’ with Police Minister” - https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/bheki-cele-meeting-jacob-zuma-nkandla-what-discussed-tea-jokes/. Below are a few excerpts.

It's funny because it's a severe breach of South African law! Jacob Zuma and Bheki Cele seemed to enjoy their meeting at Nkandla on Thursday…

If you can’t laugh at a serious Constitutional crisis you’ve personally caused, what can you laugh about? Jacob Zuma was in jovial spirits on Thursday, as Police Minister Bheki Cele dropped by for a three-hour meeting at Nkandla.

The clandestine summit remains largely shrouded in secrecy, and Cele’s impromptu visit has turned heads across the country. Zuma is subject to a Constitutional Court review – which could lead to him being placed in jail – and Bheki Cele has framed himself as a ‘strongman’ who’s tough on criminals. Yet here they both are, laughing and joking as old comrades.

Not much has been confirmed, in terms of what was actually discussed on Thursday, but Zuma’s daughter Dudu gave us a little taster. She has been active in her use of Twitter as delegations continue to visit Nkandla, and revealed that the ANC veterans had joked about getting Cele to be the one who arrests Zuma, should a warrant be issued in his name

That’s some pretty decent banter from the 78-year-old, we’ll admit. But for those wanting to know more about the tea-less gathering at Nkandla, you’ll have to wait. The spokesperson for the Police Ministry, Lirandzu Themba, has confirmed that Bheki Cele will relay details of the meeting to the ANC, before the general public is informed. We should have known…

“Police Minister, General Bheki Cele, has concluded his visit with Former President Jacob Zuma in Nkandla which started this morning at 11:00 and will update the ANC leadership on the outcome of his visit first.”

“Daily Maverick report on Zimbabwe state capture gains international attention”- https://youtu.be/RcMVIYwiuTQ

“Daily Maverick’s exclusive report on the massive scale of State Capture and corruption in Zimbabwe is gaining international attention and has been cited by the US Senate, putting President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his government under a harsher international spotlight. Adv Fadzayi Mahere and Mark Heywood have more.”

[The South Africa government also needs a major overhaul.]

“Nigeria continues to experience rising attacks and abductions of civilians”- https://youtu.be/J4asxFAInpE

“Nigeria continues to experience rising attacks and abductions of civilians by armed extremist groups. In the latest development, unidentified gunmen abducted 27 students and some staff and their family members at a secondary school in the north-central Niger state.”

Noteworthy statement;

4:56 – “The irony is that just a week ago, the AU has now elected a Nigerian to lead the all-powerful peace and security architecture as well as political affairs.”

“Faki re-elected head of AU Commission at summit focused on COVID” at https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/6/au-leader-faki-re-elected-for-second-four-year-term-at-summit states;

Nigerian Bankole Adeoye was meanwhile favoured to head the AU’s newly-merged political affairs and peace and security departments, diplomats said, though AU rules dividing top positions among Africa’s sub-regions could lead to a surprise result.

Whoever wins could play a critical role, along with Faki, in addressing crises the AU is accused of overlooking.

There are multiple internal conflicts the AU has done little to resolve.

Its Peace and Security Council has failed to hold meetings on a conflict between government forces and anglophone separatists in Cameroon, for example, as well as rising security crisis in northern Mozambique.

Abiy [Ethiopia Prime Minister] has rejected appeals from high-level AU envoys for talks with Tigrayan leaders, sticking to his line that the conflict is a limited “law and order” operation.

Tshisekedi [DRC president] has outlined an ambitious agenda that includes responding to climate change, fighting sexual violence, promoting the African Continental Free Trade Area and accelerating his own country’s Grand Inga Hydropower Project, which the AU sees as an important source of electricity for the continent.

But Tshisekedi is also embroiled in a tussle for power at home with supporters of his predecessor, Joseph Kabila.

“SA farm murders spike in 2020”- https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/sa-farm-murders-spike-in-2020/

Farm murders increased and the brutal torturing of victims during farm attacks was prevalent in South Africa in 2020 according to the latest statistics released by civil rights organisation AfriForum on Wednesday.

South African civil rights organisation AfriForum released its latest report on farm attacks and murders which showed that farm murders rose by almost 30% despite the Covid-19 Lockdown which led to a decrease in other crimes in 2020.

According to the report, released at a media briefing on Wednesday, there was an increase in the number of farm murders in 2020 despite the fact that crime in South Africa decreased in the same year.

“AfriForum’s research reports 63 farm murders in 2020, as opposed to 45 farm murders in 2019,” Andrea Muller, a researcher at AfriForum told journalists

This translates to a more than 28% increase in farm murders compared to the previous year.

According to the report there were 382 confirmed farm attacks during 2020, which is a decrease from 511 farm attacks in 2019. Most of the reported attacks occurred in August 2020.

“It must be noted that these numbers are not necessarily a true reflection of all attacks that occurred, because the media or different networks do not always report on every case. The decrease can be attributed to the lockdown, which restricted people’s movements and resulted in more police patrols,” he report found.

However, the attacks were not less violent, according to the research.

“Many attacks were extremely violent in nature, and victims were tortured and left traumatised. In one incident, a North West couple was left with burns, broken ribs and multiple head wounds after three attackers ambushed them on their farm,” the report said.

The report noted that farm murders did not decrease during the Covid-19 lockdown, as opposed to farm attacks and other crimes, which saw a decrease in the number of incidents reported.

AfriForum also announced its strategy to curb farm attacks and launched the Safeguard a Farm campaign in cooperation with the Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai). The campaign aims to provide farmers with the necessary training to enable them to take their safety in their own hands.

“Government cannot continue to ignore the impact of farm attacks and murders on its victims and their communities,” Muller said.

“BIG UPDATE! Land Reform, Cyril, Zuma”- https://youtu.be/JN8wSrRTDwo

“Controversy over Western Cape pig farmer’s relocation order” at https://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/news/controversy-over-western-cape-pig-farmers-relocation-order-372d1cb6-7ec5-4ef7-9dcc-3007e3b8a77c states;

A controversy has arisen over an order to relocate 56-year-old pig farmer, Ivan Cloete, from state land in Swartland municipality, his third relocation by the state since 2013.

Agriculture MEC Ivan Meyer has written to Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Minister Thoko Didiza, asking the national government to stop the relocation.

Meyer claims that Cloete is being moved from his farm to make way for an MK veteran and that the move against Cloete “highlights the national government’s mismanagement of land reform.”

Meyer said: “Despite productively working the land for more than a year, Ivan Cloete now faces being evicted from a third farm, previously allocated to him by the Department Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) – with the latest eviction taking place to make way for a MK veteran.”

“Cloete is effectively being denied security of tenure on Colenso, despite having been moved from previous farms twice through no fault of his own, but rather due to DALRRD’s failure to implement and manage land reform projects under its responsibility,” said Meyer.

“Exposed: Eviction of Darling farmer has the markings of a political hit job” at https://www.da.org.za/2021/02/exposed-eviction-of-darling-farmer-has-the-markings-of-a-political-hit-job states;

The Democratic Alliance (DA) can reveal that the group of supposed MK vets, operating under the banner of Tlhapi Zizi (Pty) Ltd, who have been allocated Mr Ivan Cloete’s farm, are ANC connected individuals and people who already own farms. This raises very serious questions on the fairness and transparency of the process that was used by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) to award Mr Cloete’s Darling farm to this group.

A search on the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) database shows that one of the principal directors for Tlhapi Zizi (Pty) Ltd is Mr Mziwamadoda Uppington Kalako. Mr Kalako was an ANC MP between 2014 and 2019, according to records on the People’s Assembly website. He also used to be a Provincial Convenor for the ANC in the Western Cape. The DALRRD must provide clarity on whether Mr Kalako’s status as a politically exposed individual may have played a role in influencing their decision to evict Mr Cloete from the Colenso farm and give it to Mr Mziwamadoda.

Mr Pholoso Malatji, another director for Tlhapi Zizi (Pty) Ltd, is a co-director at Cannsun, a commercial medicinal cannabis company in Atlantis, Western Cape. The company already owns 23 hectares of land which it uses to grow medical cannabis. Relatedly, another director at Tlhapi Zizi (Pty) Ltd, Mr Lesedi Ignatius Baisitse already holds another directorship at Piketburg Sunrise Farms. The question that arises is how do individuals who already own farms and farm enterprises be allowed to apply and obtain new farmland, depriving vulnerable farmers like Mr Cloete in the process? Instead of fighting against the scourge of multiple farm ownership, the Department has been exposed as actively promoting it through Mr Cloete’s case.

“Around 6 000 senior departmental officials allegedly benefitted from Ters”- https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/6-000-senior-departmental-officials-allegedly-benefitted-uif-ters/.

The SIU recently briefed the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour regarding investigations into UIF Ters.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) briefed the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour on Tuesday 16 February on the progress of investigations regarding the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), specifically with regard to the Temporary Employment Relief Scheme (TERS). The SIU said around 6 000 senior departmental officials are alleged to have benefitted from the fund.

The SIU’s Chief Executive Officer, Advocate Andy Mothibi, told the committee that the scope of investigations covers the observation made by the Auditor-General.

He said in order for the SIU to attend to some of the other audit findings, the SIU entered into a secondment agreement with the Department of Employment and Labour to secure further evidence in support of a motivation for a new proclamation which he said is still with the Department of Justice.

He said that to date, a total of 13 447 006 employees who were linked to 1.5 million companies received UIF Ters payments and a total of R57.3 million was paid out by the UIF.

“The committee heard that fraudulent payments included payments to deceased people, prisoners, foreign nationals, people sharing the same banking details and people with invalid ID numbers. Furthermore, the committee heard that fraud happened because of flawed and weak internal controls,” Parliament said in a statement.

The committee also heard that about 6 000 senior departmental officials who are alleged to have illegally benefitted from the fund are on suspension and on full pay. Mothibi informed the committee about recovery strategies that are in place for the monies that were allegedly paid to the officials.

According to EWN, the Hawks arrested 11 people as part of ongoing investigations into the abuse of Ters as well.

The SIU’s Kaizer Kganyago said; “The 11 people who were arrested are in relation to individual cases where they were defrauding the system. We further found that more than 6,100 people got Ters money but those people are on persal of government, meaning they work for government and they also applied for Ters and the system did not detect that.”

Chairperson of the committee Lindelwa Dunjwa said the report empowers the committee to do its oversight work in a better and improved way. She called upon other government departments to cooperate with the SIU on this very important work. She referred to the report the committee received today as “work in progress”.

She called for the acceleration of the investigations, especially because there are officials who are suspended on full pay.

“Please ensure that the process is not dragged and that its outcome is credible,” said Dunjwa.

“Ace Magashule court case | Illegal gathering of supporters”- https://youtu.be/duXlSDtiAes

“Brigadier Sam Makhele spoke with eNCA's Sally Burdett.” [As usual the police avoid answering the questions, especially concerning the stark differences with regard to actions taken against civilian protests compared to cadre protests.]

“Ace Magashule on asbestos case: ‘I’ve done nothing wrong’” at https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/ace-magashule-on-asbestos-case-ive-done-nothing-wrong/ states;

ANC secretary general Ace Magashule is alleged to have accepted gratifications on behalf of several people, to the tune of R1.1 million.

The African National Congress (ANC) secretary general Ace Magashule has maintained his innocence in the multimillion rand corruption case he is a part of. Magashule and several other co-accused made an appearance at the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 19 February 2021, over their alleged role in the R255 million asbestos saga.

The matter has been postponed to 11 August 2021 and will be moved to the High Court in Bloemfontein.

“We hope for a speedy trial because justice delayed is something else so we are looking forward to 11 August. I have done nothing wrong and I have proof in court,” Magashule said.

>>13008086

Information about the Hoek Report – “The State Vs The Oppenheimer Complex”- https://behind-the-news.com/afrikaner-takeover-of-south-africa-part-2-of-a-4-part-series/

Harry Oppenheimer had a problem in dealing with the Afrikaner government. In the corridors of power in Pretoria and Cape Town, his power and influence was not welcomed at all, even though one could not do without the other. He was derisively known as “Hoggenheimer”, an insulting remark. What Harry O needed was someone in the government who will listen to someone of their own kind – an Afrikaner businessman – who has somewhat very similar problems as the Anglo Group.

A giant Afrikaner conglomerate, SANLAM, had a subsidiary called Federal Mynbou. In 1963, Federale Mynbou acquired control of the second-largest mining group, General Mining and Finance Corporation, resulting in a new company called Federal Mynbou General Mining, eventually shortened to GENCOR. This deal was engineered by Harry O, for the reason stated above. Harry O now had his “Trojan Horse” in Pretoria and Cape Town. But this deal brought about forces that could cripple, maybe even destroy the Oppenheimer complex.

To understand what happens next, let us study the National Party. This party itself had two wings; a British-leaning wing based in Cape Town called the ‘verligte’ or liberal wing. The Rupert family is of this wing. And a nationalistic wing centered in the Transvaal province was known as the ‘verkrampte’wing. It was this Transvaal faction that pushed through the post-1948 industrialization program. This turned South Africa into an industrial power, as opposed to only an exporter of raw materials. To its enemies, this faction was known as the hardliners.

When Harry O created an opening for the Afrikaner business world to enter into the world of mining and finance, it brought into the open the enmity between the Transvaal faction and the Oppenheimer complex. The Transvaal faction still pursued its vendetta against Anglo (they remembered the more than 20,000 women and children of the Afrikaners who died in British concentration camps during the Anglo-Boer War), and succeeded in mounting a damaging investigation of Anglo’s economic power. And this eventually backfired disastrously on the Transvaal faction when it resulted in the assassination of the Prime Minister, Hendrik Vervoed.

Dr. Albert Hertzog, leader of the hard-line verkrampte wing, commissioned an internal report from a Professor Hoek at the University of Pretoria. This 600-page was completed in early 1965. Hertzog was acting under a secret mandate from the Prime Minister.

The Hoek Report described Anglo as the largest private group in the country, large enough to be able to frustrate government policies. It claimed that Anglo paid a disproportionately low level of tax, which amounted to a loss of government revenue running into the millions of Rands. In fact, in 1995, the SA Breweries Group paid more in taxes than the entire gold mining industry put together. Hoek pointed out that as an important supplier of key minerals to South Africa’s defense industry, Anglo should be brought under stricter government control. He suggested that its operational boundaries in South Africa be limited, and restrictions placed on its foreign-based companies such as Charter Consolidated in London.

In the investigation of the ramifications of the Anglo/De Beers complex, Hoek concluded that South Africa could not contain two such power centers; only one of the two will end up surviving. Hoek concluded that it was in the interest of the State that this complex be nationalized, broken-up and dismantled into many small pieces, so that the threat to the State will be removed.

With this in mind, Prime Minister Hendrik Vervoed opened Parliament, in September 1966. One of his first acts was going to be the implementation of the conclusion of the 600-page Hoek report. But, alas, Harry O came to know about the intentions of Vervoed. Within minutes of opening Parliament, a Greek messenger Tsefandis, stabbed Vervoed to death. The Prime Minister died and so did the Hoek report. P.W. Botha, an Nat MP, and a member of the Transvaal faction jumped up from his chair, and rushed over to Helen Suzman (who was head of the opposition United Party – Oppenheimers political party at that time) pointed his finger at her, and shouted , “ You—you—I know it was your people behind this outrage!” No proof exists, but in cases like this, the one question to ask, is “Who benefits?” This report was then classified a State Secret. Within a few years, the only copy in existence is safely ensconced in Harry O’s private library at Brenthurst, his private residence in Johannesburg.

>>13009767

A noteworthy portion of http://www.giveachildvision.com/the-boat/;

The Relamar has hosted many influential world leaders of both government and business as Maurice Tempelsman fulfilled his responsibilities as chairman of the board of one of the largest diamond companies of the world.

In 1950, Tempelsman created a new marketing niche by persuading the US government to stockpile African diamonds for industrial and military purposes, with him as middleman. In 1957, at the age of 27, he and his lawyer, Adlai Stevenson, traveled to Africa, where Tempelsman had begun forging ties with leaders. His contacts eventually ranged from South African anti-apartheid politician Oliver Tambo [ANC] to Zaire’s kleptocratic dictator, Mobutu Sese Seko and the influential Oppenheimer diamond family. Tempelsman is chairman of the board of directors of Lazare Kaplan International Inc. (LKI), the largest diamond company in the United States, noted for its “ideal cut” diamonds sold worldwide under the brand name, Lazare Diamonds. Tempelsman is one of fewer than 90 ″sightholders″ in the world, which means that 10 times a year he is permitted to buy diamonds directly from the powerful De Beers cartel in the City of London. Because DeBeers was a virtual monopoly, for many years it could not operate legally in the United States.

>>13008453

“In early 1980, Anglo [American] went on a buying binge throughout the world”

Noteworthy portion of https://behind-the-news.com/afrikaner-takeover-of-south-africa-part-2-of-a-4-part-series/;

In the meantime, what was the Oppenheimer complex doing during the 1980s? With the rise in the price of gold to $800 in early 1980, Anglo went on a buying binge throughout the world, so that by 1981, it became the single largest foreign investor in the US! It also became an even greater power in Latin America, London, Australia, and the rest of Africa. During the 1980s, Anglo poured over $18 billion into the US alone!

Kapitan Oriental Restaurant in South Africa, a meeting place for ANC, King Faisal, US senators, Aristotle Onassis, King Faisal, etc.

“Backstory: Kapitan of courage and curry” at https://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0921/p20s01-lifo.html states;

Kapitan's Oriental Restaurant, it turns out, didn't close in 1989, newspaper articles and gossip to the contrary. It didn't close in 1990 when Mandela was released from prison or in 1995 when he was president – although almost every year, owner Mandajit Ranthod promises to retire.

When Botswana's founding president, Sir Seretse Khama, came to Johannesburg for medical treatment, this was the only restaurant that would accommodate his white wife, Ruth, along with his black cabinet ministers.

Ranthod today denies any revolutionary fervor. "I thought, why not serve them?" he says of the black professionals such as Mandela and Oliver Tambo who frequented his restaurant.

He says he didn't realize that many of his customers were activists. Mandela, for instance, "was a quiet person. I didn't know he was a politician until they arrested him."

He knows his restaurant is an institution. "I know many famous people," he says, consciously nonchalant. He fed King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, he offers. And Aristotle Onassis. And, he smiles, Naomi Campbell. He points to a newspaper clipping as proof.

"I am famous in America," he says after asking a visitor where she's from. "Everybody in Washington knows me." He explains that he has fed 25 senators, as well as some top newspaper editors.

And who is his favorite famous person?

"Kissinger. I met him at Gandhi's funeral."

>>13008095

“FORMER INTELLIGENCE AIDES PROFITING FROM OLD TIES” – Leon Tempelsman & Son Inc., dated Dec 6, 1981, at https://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/06/us/former-intelligence-aides-profiting-from-old-ties.html. This article provides a wealth of information concerning CIA operatives in businesses across the world (like Zaire, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Morocco, Iran) and shares details concerning several agents. Below are a few excerpts concerning Zaire and the agent who was hired by Leon Tempelsman & Son Inc..

Many former American intelligence agents have entered into profitable business arrangements based on the extraordinary secret access to foreign officials and to sensitive information they gained in Government service.

Lawrence Raymond Devlin, the former C.I.A. station chief in Zaire. He covertly helped support President Mobutu Sese Seko's rise to power and then went to work in Zaire as the representative of an American metals company.

Former and current State Department officials who said they were troubled by the foreign-policy implications of retired intelligence agents' continuing to do business in foreign countries frequently cited Mr. Devlin as an example.

For much of the 1960's, Mr. Devlin was an official of the Central Intelligence Agency, including service as station chief in the Congo, which later became Zaire. The Senate Intelligence Committee, in 1975, reported an aborted 1960 plot by the C.I.A. to murder the Congo leader, Patrice Lumumba, and Mr. Lumumba was murdered in 1961.

In 1965, with the help of Mr. Devlin and the C.I.A., Mr. Mobutu took office, according to former intelligence officials. The C.I.A.'s support for Mr. Mobutu included secret financial aid.

A former agent, John Stockwell, wrote in his book, In Search of Enemies, that Mr. Devlin shuffled new governments like cards, finally settling on Mobutu as President. 'Excellent Contacts' Cited

After leaving the Government in 1974, Mr. Devlin became head of the Zaire office of Leon Tempelsman & Son Inc., a New York-based metals and precious minerals company active in diamond and mineral exploration in Zaire. William A. Ullman, a vice president of the diamond company, said the hiring of Mr. Devlin, who had no experience in diamonds or metals, took into account his excellent contacts in Zaire.

Government officials provided a fuller picture of Mr. Devlin's contacts. They said that President Mobutu regarded Mr. Devlin, even long after he left the Government, as the representative of the United States. This gave Mr. Devlin better connections in Zaire than the United States ambassador there, the officials said.

Mr. Stockwell said in his book that the C.I.A. continued to use Mr. Devlin in 1975, after he left the agency. One Congressional aide said that arrangement still existed.

Former and current State Department officials said Mr. Devlin's extraordinary access caused intelligence officials in Zaire to regard him as more important than embassy personnel.

The officials said that the C.I.A. was less interested than the State Department in reducing corruption in Zaire and that at times the agency bribed Zairians for information. Mr. Devlin's strategic relationship with President Mobutu helped, on occasion, to undercut American foreign policy objectives, the diplomats said.

For several years Mr. Devlin's deputy in the Zaire office of Tempelsman was Col. John Gerassi, the former military attache at the United States Embassy there, according to Mr. Ullman.

I thought it was unfair to have to compete with people who have developed extraordinary contacts as a result of their Government experience, said the businessman, who requested anonymity because of continuing business relationships. His view was repeated by many others who do business in third world countries.

Mr. Ullman said Mr. Devlin was in the United States this week, coinciding with a visit by President Mobutu, but he did not return repeated telephone messages.

Maurice Tempelsman – Information at Office of the Historian (US)

”96. Telegram From the Embassy in the Congo to the Department of State” dated August 11, 1961 at https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1961-63v20/d96 states;

Early approval Tempelsman diamond barter deal4 most desirable.

1. A U.S. firm, Leon Tempelsman and Son, was seeking U.S. approval for a barter transaction involving the exchange of approximately $54 million of Congo industrial diamonds for U.S. surplus agricultural commodities. Memoranda of conversations on this subject between Maurice Tempelsman and Rusk on July 26 and between Tempelsman and Bowles on August 9 are ibid., Secretary’s Memoranda of Conversation: Lot 65 D 330. Tempelsman enclosed a summary of the proposal dated November 9, 1961, with a letter to Stevenson of the same date. (Princeton University, Stevenson Papers, Box 837, Maurice Tempelsman) Further documentation on this subject is in Department of State, Central File 870G.2535.

“231. Report From Vice President Humphrey to President Johnson” dated January 12, 1968 at https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1964-68v24/d231 states;

At your request, Mrs. Humphrey and I visited nine African countries between December 30, 1967, and January 11, 1968: Ivory Coast, Liberia (for the inauguration ceremonies of President Tubman), Ghana, Congo (K), Zambia, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and Tunisia.

We need a private Council for Africa, much like the present Council for Latin America.

Such a Council would be made up of business firms which would support and benefit from it. Consisting of a board, a small staff, and, most importantly, of representatives in African capitals, it would help American business in its efforts to become established and to operate successfully in Africa.

Both Maurice Tempelsman and Edgar Bronfman, Jr., who accompanied us on our trip, expressed interest in helping to organize such a Council.

“269. Telegram 641 From the Embassy in Zaire to the Department of State” dated January 23, 1975 at https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1969-76ve06/d269

1. You should also know that after Chairman Diggs reaffirmed his decision to go public, I met privately with Maurice Tempelsman, who this morining is having breakfast with Mobutu [Zaire President], and briefed him on situation as I saw it. He shares view that Mobutu bungled and was used by others in going along with bad advice. He thought subject might come up with President and agreed use opportunity in his own way to make clear to Mobutu why I was and US Government would be rightly upset.

1. In light of above, and possible consequences for US resource investment interests here is USG, on your personal instructions, slaps down chief of state, I urge reconsideration. I’ll try supply read-out on Tempelsman-Mobutu conversation tomorrow, January 24.

“123. Memorandum of Conversation: Middle East Negotiations; the Nonaligned Movement; Rhodesia; U.S.-Gabon Relations and Military Assistance”- Maurice Tempelsman was a participant in discussion with the President of Gabon, dated June 14, 1979 at https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1977-80v17p2/d123 states;

President Carter hoped that President Bongo, while in the United States, would help the American people to understand the importance of holding to principle on Rhodesia. Some Americans saw a black bishop with the title of prime minister and wanted to lift sanctions precipitously. The President felt we must persevere to seek a government in Zimbabwe truly reflecting majority rule. President Bongo could help us domestically by explaining this complex issue.

President Bongo expressed his high regard for Maurice Tempelsman,6 whom he was quite aware had obtained the appointment for him with Vice President Mondale after the American Ambassador and the State Department had stressed how very busy the President and Vice President were.

[Take note, President Omar Bongo ruled Gabon for 42 years until his death in 2009.]

>>13017599

Further on “FORMER INTELLIGENCE AIDES PROFITING FROM OLD TIES” connections to Safari Clubhttps://www.nytimes.com/1981/12/06/us/former-intelligence-aides-profiting-from-old-ties.html;

Raymond H. Close, the former C.I.A. station chief in Saudi Arabia. After official retirement in 1977, he went to work there, and his numerous business interests include partnerships with former Saudi officials.

Two former officials recalled an incident in the early 1970's when Mr. Close gave approval to top Saudi officials to sell arms to Pakistan at the same time the American ambassador was denying permission.

In one of his first business ventures after leaving the C.I.A., Mr. Close became a partner with Kamal Adham, who in early 1979 left his post as head of the Saudi Arabian intelligence service, according to Americans doing business in Saudi Arabia. Another Saudi business partner of Mr. Close is Issan Kabbani, another former Saudi official.

Since 1978, a company in which Mr. Close and Mr. Kabbani are principals has been the Saudi Arabian representative for Cesco Chemicals International Inc., a Louisiana-based company that sells an oilfield drilling lubricant, according to Cesco officials.

Vernon A. Walters, the former Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, now the Reagan Administration's ambassador at large. He earned $300,000 for consulting on a potential arms sale to Morocco before joining the Administration.

One of Mr. Walters's last missions in the C.I.A. was a trip in late 1975 to Spain, where in meetings with King Hassan II of Morocco and Spanish officials he convinced Spain to give up control of Western Sahara, a Spanish colony in Africa long sought by Morocco, according to Congressional sources.

When asked in 1979 by Africa News, an American newsletter on African affairs, about the secret 1975 talks, Mr. Walters reportedly declined to discuss the details, saying, It would look like the King of Morocco and the King of Spain are pawns of the United States, and that wouldn't be in anybody's interest.

Committee documents showed how Kermit Roosevelt, a former C.I.A. official who personally arranged the 1953 coup that brought the Shah of Iran to power, used his C.I.A. connections on behalf of the Northrop Corporation in Iran and the Middle East.

Letters written by Mr. Roosevelt and released by the committee repeated references to my friends in the C.I.A. who were keeping him apprised of Northrop's competition.

Reminds me of the Safari Club. https://whowhatwhy.org/2014/11/02/the-deep-state-plots-the-1980-defeat-of-jimmy-carter/ states;

As former Saudi intelligence chief Prince Turki bin Faisal once told Georgetown University alumni,

In 1976, after the Watergate matters took place here, your intelligence community was literally tied up by Congress. It could not do anything. It could not send spies, it could not write reports, and it could not pay money. In order to compensate for that, a group of countries got together in the hope of fighting Communism and established what was called the Safari Club. The Safari Club included France, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Iran.

Trento adds that “The Safari Club needed a network of banks to finance its intelligence operations. With the official blessing of George Bush as the head of the CIA, Adham transformed . . . the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), into a worldwide money-laundering machine.”

“Gabon: Appointment of president Bongo's son not well received [Morning Call]”- https://youtu.be/Osz-ov6BI-Y

The eldest son of Gabonese president Ali Bongo Ondimba, Noureddin Bongo Valentin, has been appointed “coordinator of presidential affairs” with the main mandate “to assist the President of the Republic in the conduct of all affairs of the State.”

Noureddin Bongo will therefore be a right hand man to his father Ali Bongo, who came to power in 2009 winning his first seven-year term after the death of his father, Omar Bongo, who led the country for 42 years.

“The suspicious video that helped spark an attempted coup in Gabon | The Fact Checker”- https://youtu.be/F5vzKs4z1dc

Gabon’s president Ali Bongo Ondimba hadn’t been seen in public for months. He had fallen ill in October 2018 while visiting Saudi Arabia. Over the next few months, questions about Bongo’s health grew as the government provided little information. In October, the president’s spokesperson said Bongo suffered “severe fatigue.” By mid-November, it was “bleeding.” A month later, the vice president said it was a stroke.

President Ali Bongo came to power in the oil-rich country of Gabon in 2009, after the death of his father who had been in power for 42 years. But Bongo’s rule was contentious. Although Gabon is a relatively stable country, Bongo’s 2016 reelection was met with violence and accusations of fraud.

When Bongo fell ill and disappeared from public life, critics of the president demanded answers. Some spread conspiracy theories that he was dead or replaced by a body double online. And when a video address from Bongo appeared at the end of December 2018, some thought it was a deepfake. A week later, soldiers attempted a coup.

“The former president and French arms company Thales are facing several charges”- https://youtu.be/0CL0CK3gYKo

Jacob Zuma corruption case 'trial ready'. State Advocate Billy Downer says all parties are ready to go to trial in May.

Noteworthy comment;

6:17 – “I can tell you without fear of contradiction that today is a significant date. There were points in time when it looked like this matter will never come to a point where it’s certified as trial ready with all of the sides, all three sides, saying we are ready to rock and roll. So let see what happens as we build up to the 17th of May but also let’s see what happens politically because the other layer of this complication are the politics… around it with former president Jacob Zuma and supporters how they fit in what’s called the RET forces, the MKVA as well as his ordinary supporters and branches here in KwaZulu Natal. A province whose politics is fractious at the best of times… How will that play out politically? We are in for some real legal and political drama.”

__“South African ex-president's corruption trial set for May”_ at https://www.independent.co.uk/news/south-african-expresidents-corruption-trial-set-for-may-jacob-zuma-thales-south-african-allegations-president-b1806098.html states;

Former South African president Jacob Zuma’s corruption trial is set to begin in May, more than 16 years after he was first implicated in the graft allegations.

Zuma, South Africa's president from 2009 to 2018, is accused of receiving bribes from French arms manufacturer Thales

Zuma faces corruption charges related to payments he allegedly received as bribes from Thales. Thales was among the companies that scored contracts to supply South Africa with weapons in the country’s controversial 1999 arms procurements.

The allegedly corrupt deal with Thales was facilitated by Zuma’s former financial adviser Schabir Shaik, who was convicted of the charges in 2005 and sentenced to 15 years in jail. Shaik was released on parole, on medical grounds, after serving just over two years.

The trial will add to Zuma’s legal woes as he is also facing imprisonment or a fine for failing to appear before a state commission investigating other allegations of corruption in government and state-owned companies when he was president.

“Former president Jacob Zuma's corruption trial set to begin on 17 May”- https://youtu.be/8lUqaWD9cX8.

eNCA's Thembikile Mrototo spoke with advocate Paul Hoffman about the upcoming trial of former president Jacob Zuma. (They provide more background information.)

“BANANA REPUBLIC: SANDF chase Hawks away, Bheki Cele lies (again) and more stories.”- https://youtu.be/jWPR5fYoPa4

A good summary.

>>13031616

“‘We thought COVID-19 was a biological war’ – SANDF’s R260m mistake”- https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/sandf-biological-war-covid-19-cuban-drugs/

Some extraordinary claims were made in Parliament this week, as SANDF representatives said they were responding to COVID-19 'as a chemical attack'.

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) found themselves with some explaining to do in Parliament this week, after their R260 million procurement of an untested – and ultimately unusable – COVID-19 treatment came under the microscope. However, in the search for clarity, more bizarre details about this deal have come to light.

Senior executives serving the army spent about R260 million on ‘unproven COVID-19 remedies’ – and then hid evidence of the payments. It is believed that the so-called ‘treatment’ was initially procured from Cuba, and had even been championed by Ekurhuleni Mayor Mzwandile Masina. Rapport claims that soldiers were clambering to be injected with it first.

The order for the Interferon Alfa-R2B, also known as Heberon, did not come from the South African Military Health Services (SAMHS) – and as such, failed to gain acceptance as stock, as this particular medication is not registered for use in South Africa. Interferon was tested as a COVID-19 treatment last year by the WHO, but it failed to tame the virus.

SANDF stuck to their guns on the issue, insisting that Interferon had shown positive results in several other countries. However, these claims were comprehensively dismissed by Wits University’s Professor Shabir Madhi:

“There is no scientific rationale for doing a clinical trial of Interferon alfa-2b as it has already been shown to be ineffective in the WHO solidarity trial in the treatment of COVID-19.”

Major General Mzikayise Tyhalisi faced the music in the National Assembly, and gave an eye-opening account of SANDF’s response to the virus: The army reacted to the arrival of COVID-19, believing it was the result of ‘biological warfare’ – an astonishing claim made by no other government or armed service elsewhere.

Tyhalisi defended the decision to procure vast reserves of Interferon, saying that decisions made ‘in wartime-like operations’ can often be questioned in hindsight – and SANDF operated under the impression that a ‘chemical threat’ existed.

“Ramaphosa told us to get boots on the ground in April 2020. We were in the process of planning of the employment and protecting these forces. The military has the sole capability of chemical and biological warfare. We did not know how this enemy was going to behave… Interferon was purchased to support the fight against a military biological threat.”

Originally General Research #16603 >>13036026

COVID In Colorado:Vaccines Can Cause Worrisome Side Effect For Women

Tue, February 23, 2021, 5:13 PM

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine is a relief for most people, but some women are discovering a worrisome side effect from both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

2 minute video explains how vaccine can cause swollen lymph nodes that are visible on mammogram

*may complicate mammograms

https://news.yahoo.com/covid-colorado-vaccines-cause-worrisome-001353358.html

>>13033401

Original from South Africa #2 - >>12933483

“South Africa Started Testing a COVID-19 Vaccine This Week. Here’s Why It’s a Big Deal.”Dated June 26, 2020 at https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/south-africa-starts-testing-covid-19-vaccine/. Below are a few exerpts.

South Africa’s University of Witwatersrand (WITS) on Monday announced that it would be launching the country’s first vaccination trials this week.

The vaccination, which is technically named ChAdOx1-nCOV-19, is aimed at preventing infection by the virus that causes COVID-19.

The trial is a partnership between WITS and the University of Oxford’s Jenner Institute, in the UK.

It’s supported by the national Department of Health and the South Africa Medical Research Council (SAMRC), while the R150 million bill is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Shabir Madhi, professor of vaccinology at WITS and director of SAMRC’s Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit (VIDA), said: "Right now in South Africa, we’re still at the start of the first wave of the pandemic and in all likelihood we will continue experiencing waves of this pandemic at least until about 60 to 70% of the population is infected.”

[Did these vaccine trials create the new variants? - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/01/what-we-know-about-the-south-african-variant-of-covid]

“Donald Trump calls SA a dangerous mess”dated 21 April 2015 at https://www.enca.com/life/donald-trump-calls-sa-dangerous-mess states;

American business magnate and television personality, Donald Trump, has called South Africa a very dangerous mess.

He expressed his opinion, which he said he has held for a while, via a tweet to his followers on Monday night.

As I have long been saying, South Africa is a total - and very dangerous - mess. Just watch the evening news (when not talking weather).

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 20, 2015

It is not the first time Trump has criticised South Africa.

In 2013, he posted a tweet saying South Africa was a crime-ridden mess "just waiting to explode".

[He already knew back then!]

“101st Soldiers ambushed in South African training” - https://youtu.be/2LXkvmXQtF8 on the Army News Service (ARNEWS) channel

Description below the video;

“A platoon of 101st Airborne Division Soldiers reacts to an ambush during situational training as part of Shared Accord 17 at the South African Army Combat Training Center July 21, 2017. (Produced by SSG Jose Ibarra; voices of South African LTC Pedro and SFC Martin) Read more: https://www.army.mil/article/191222” [This article was only written in July 10, 2018]

“Trump Has Not Asked Zuma to Step Down, But US Troops Have Been in South Africa”dated Aug 3, 2017, https://www.sapeople.com/2017/08/03/fake-donald-trump-vs-jacob-zuma-news-based-real-photos-us-army-south-africa/. Below are a few excerpts.

However the US army troops have been in South Africa for the past fortnight; and Zuma and Trump did speak on the phone five months ago… but it was about the US and SA collaborating more on “shared security interests, including the fight against terrorism”.

In the past couple of weeks more than 300 US soldiers and marines have joined about 830 South African military members in Lohatla, SA, for Shared Accord 2017 – a combined, joint command post and field training exercise focused on peacekeeping operations within Africa.

Activities during the fortnight, which ended today, included African Bushcraft lessons on finding water, and mock scenes acted out on how to defuse hostile flare-ups in villages.

[Hashtag used; #sharedaccord17]

“Red Cross prepares to contain deadly Ebola outbreak in Africa”-

https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/red-cross-prepares-to-contain-deadly-ebola-outbreak-in-africa/. Below are a few excerpts.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Regional Director for Africa says there is a serious risk of the deadly Ebola virus spreading from Guinea to neighbouring countries.

Red Cross volunteers and staff in Guinea, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone have stepped up surveillance and community sensitisation effort to contain a deadly Ebola outbreak in the region.

To support their life saving activities, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has issued an international emergency appeal for 8.5 million Swiss francs.

IFRC Regional Director for Africa, Mohammed Mukhier, said there was a serious risk of the virus spreading from Guinea to neighbouring countries.

“Ebola does not care about borders. Close social, cultural and economic ties between communities in Guinea and neighbouring countries create a very serious risk of the virus spreading to Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire and Sierra Leone, and potentially even further,” Mukhier said.

“That’s why we are launching an integrated cross-border operation aimed at rapidly confining the outbreak to its current location and swiftly containing any eventual outbreak beyond Guinea.”

There are an estimated 1.3 million people living in the health zone affected by the outbreak. The Guinea Red Cross and IFRC plan aims to support about 420 000 of them with a range of services, including community sensitisation, community-based surveillance, water, sanitation and hygiene, safe and dignified burials, infection prevention and control, as well as psychosocial support.

“This outbreak is likely to complicate an already challenging situation. COVID-related containment measures currently being implemented have exacerbated food insecurity in the region and this may lead to the reluctance of communities to respect new preventive measures that are being put in place to contain Ebola,” Mukhier said.

Mohammed Mukhier bio’s at https://www.mcgill.ca/globalfoodsecurity/events/proceedings/2008conference/speakers/bios#MMUKHIER;

Born in Sudan, Mohammed Mukhier is Head of Disaster Policy and Preparedness Department at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in Geneva since June 2006. Mr. Mukhier’s department provides overall guidance to the IFRC’s secretariat and to National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on topics such as disaster preparedness, disaster policy, disaster risk reduction, food security, livelihood and recovery. Before becoming Head of Department, Mohammed Mukhier held key positions in the field as Head of Operations for the Pakistan earthquake in 2006, Head of Delegation in Iran in 2004-2005, Regional Disaster Preparedness and Response Delegate for Eastern Africa from 2000 to 2003 and Senior Disaster Preparedness Officer in Geneva (1998-2000). Before joining the IFRC, Mohammed Mukhier also worked for Actionaid and was a Research Associate at the Cranfield Disaster Preparedness Centre at Cranfield University in England. Mohammed Mukhier holds several university degrees including diplomas in international management, food security and microcomputers for agricultural development.

>>13040125

I am not sure if the roads systems have improved in Africa however, in the past, they always recommended that one uses a 4x4 to travel from Cape Town to Cairo.

If the borders of other African countries are anything like South Africa’s, they are probably not maintained and people can easily cross over illegally. I know of farmers along the South Africa and Botswana border who tend to socialize with each other and their families swim together in the Limpopo River. However a farmer who farmed with crocodiles along the river had to release them during a flood one year but could not find them all afterwards, so these people tend to think twice before entering the water.

In Africa, one definitely needs Game Reserves in order to protect the wildlife as poaching is rife on the continent. People do not need to be protected from the wildlife, the wildlife needs to be protected from the people. On one occasion, a pride of 9 lions escaped the Kruger National Park and they were subsequently eaten in a neighbouring village. Also, I attended a wildlife conference where a professor mentioned that he flew over various game reserves across the African continent and was not able to spot one animal on many occasion. At the time, these governments were contemplating to buy wildlife from game farmers in South Africa to replenish these reserves to boost their tourism industry.

There have been stories of illegal immigrants from Mozambique trying to enter South Africa through the Kruger National Park who have been eaten by lions. These lions then need to be euthanized after tasting human flesh.

Tranquilizer darts are used to capture lions either from a vehicle or helicopter. In South Africa, only registered veterinarians are allowed to handle the drug used to dart these animals as it is very dangerous to humans. Are you having problems with lions escaping a zoo?

By the way, it is more fun herding buck from a helicopter as they get corralled onto a truck. It is like a 2 hour rollercoaster ride.

==“Political Economist Moeletsi Mbeki, reacts to Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's 2021 Budget Speech” - https://youtu.be/Rtu7DEy4zn8. A very good discussion.

“Political Economist Moeletsi Mbeki, reacts to Finance Minister Tito Mboweni's 2021 Budget Speech.”

Noteworthy statements;

3:05 – “What is merging from this budget to me the most important thing about this budget is that it is showing that the influence of South Africa of the ANC’s allies, who were his allies in the fight against the Apartheid, is waning. If they haven’t been thrown overboard already by the ANC.”

4:54 – “So what you see in the budget is a very poor friendly budget… The ANC government no longer depends on organized labour and working people. It depends on the poor and the unemployed to get elected.”

“Niger Elections | Mohamed Bazoum wins election”- https://youtu.be/bkRym35trUo

“Violence has broken out in parts of Niger following the announcement of the presidential election results. Ruling party candidate Mohamed Bazoum was declared the winner, but the opposition has also claimed victory.”

“At Least 100 Killed By Islamic Extremists In Niger Villages” dated January 4, 2021, at https://dailycaller.com/2021/01/04/niger-villages-attacked-islamic-extremists/. Below are a few excerpts.

At least 100 people were killed by Islamic extremists who targeted their villages in Niger, officials announced on Sunday.

Nigerian villages Tchombangou and Zaroumdareye were attacked after locals killed two militants on the day it was announced that the West African presidential elections will go to a second round, the Associated Press reported. Islamic extremist groups Boko Haram, and members of ISIS and al-Qaida, have attacked the nation several times.

Thousands have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced by the attacks even with thousands of regional and international troops stationed throughout the country, the AP reported.

“VLOG 80: Government official busted in stock-theft case!”- https://youtu.be/cJn0UeNa48I

Wanna know why farming is dying a slow death in South Africa?

No matter what the politicians try tell you, it has little to do with race nor the so-called “land debate”, but rather the failure of government to protect the LIFE, LIBERTY & PROPERTY-RIGHTS of the farming community.

The latest case of stock-theft in the North-West which saw a government official arrested is a sign that the state and political-elites are part of the problem, not solution.

“Top North West government official has been arrested” - https://theworldnews.net/za-news/top-north-west-official-arrested-for-stock-theft. Below are a few excerpts.

A top North West government official has been arrested for stock theft and is due to appear in the Delareyville Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday following his arrest on Friday.

The 50-year-old chief director of education, who is based in the North West Department of Education headquarters in Mahikeng, was arrested alongside his 38-year-old shepherd.

North West police spokesperson Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone said the suspects were arrested after about 100 cattle and calves were allegedly found in their possession.

Mokgwabone said ,according to information in their possession at this stage, farmers used a private helicopter to search for a stolen stud bull worth R120 000.

During the search, the bull together with cattle that were reported stolen at Delareyville and Sannieshof police stations last week were allegedly found at the suspect's farm at Barberspan outside Delareyville.

“Subsequently, 11 cattle were positively identified by owners while others were seized and taken to the Lichtenburg pound for further investigation as their brand marks were tampered with. Police investigations continue,” Mokgwabone said.

He said North West police commissioner Sello Kwena had congratulated the farmers, members of the community and the police for their co-operation which resulted in the recovery of the cattle and the eventual arrest of the suspects.

She said farmers from the area had hired a private helicopter to locate seven stud cattle that were reported as stolen.

Visser said 150 allegedly stolen cattle were found, of which several that were reported stolen last year were handed back to their owners. “The remaining cattle in the camp were confiscated and transported to the Lichtenburg Large Animal Pound, pending further investigation.”

She said the sequence of events clearly indicated the incompetence and lack of political will on the part of the SAPS to investigate and resolve stock theft, saying the apparent apathy compels farmers to make use of their own resources to do the work that the SAPS are constitutionally mandated to do.

“The DA demands that an in-depth investigation by the Hawks and SAPS Stock Theft Unit is urgently launched into the cattle kept on other farms owned by the accused to ensure that justice prevails.

“The startling rate at which rural crimes such as farm attacks, murders and stock theft continue again proves that the implementation of a rural safety strategy, as promised by Minister Cele, remains a pie in the sky and that the ANC government cannot be trusted to safeguard rural communities,” Visser said.

“Somalia Election Impasse: Discussion with Horn of Africa Analyst, DR Ahmed Hashi | Bottomline Africa”- https://youtu.be/J4OO7o1WPeI

A good discussion.

“Discussion | SUI probing claims of tender irregularities made against health department” - https://youtu.be/DjeSMoeW8qQ

“Zweli Mkhize’s ‘family friend’ and ex-private secretary pocket Covid-19 cash via R82m Department of Health contracts”- https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-02-23-zweli-mkhizes-family-friend-and-ex-private-secretary-pocket-covid-19-cash-via-r82m-department-of-health-contracts/. Below are a few excerpts however it is worth reading in full.

Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize’s long-time personal spokesperson and his former private secretary pocketed Covid-19 cash as paid consultants for a shadowy contractor appointed by the Department of Health. The company, Digital Vibes, has secured DoH contracts worth more than R82m for work related to the pandemic.

Digital Vibes, an obscure communications company from KwaZulu-Natal, appointed two close associates of Health Minister Zweli Mkhize as paid consultants after it secured an irregular communications contract from the Department of Health (DoH).

The DoH appointed Digital Vibes in late 2019 through a contentious closed tender to provide communications services for the government’s National Health Insurance (NHI) roll-out.

The scope of work was extended in March 2020 to include communications services for Covid-19.

The same company also clinched a contract from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) in 2018, while Mkhize led this department.

In both instances, Tahera Mather, Mkhize’s long-serving personal spokesperson and alleged family friend, scored consultancy jobs from Digital Vibes after it had secured the government contracts.

Digital Vibes has no website. Its business address is listed as a residential property in KwaDukuza (formerly Stanger) on KwaZulu-Natal’s North Coast, according to company records.

The company’s principal director, Radha Hariram, doesn’t appear to have any visible footprint in the communications industry.

After Digital Vibes won the NHI contract, the company also appointed Naadhira Mitha, a former assistant private secretary in Mkhize’s office when he was minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs.

Mather has been at Mkhize’s side as a spokesperson or media aide for many years. Her social media accounts are awash with pictures and other content relating to her work alongside Mkhize. Some of the pictures date back to 2014.

But sources familiar with the health minister’s circles say their relationship goes as far back as the 1990s, when Mkhize was MEC for Health in KwaZulu-Natal.

Scorpio established that she was listed as a contact person for the offices Digital Vibes rented in Houghton, Johannesburg. The company rented the space for only a year and vacated these offices in December 2020.

Before Mkhize joined President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Cabinet, Mather and Mitha worked as communications consultants in Mkhize’s so-called #Unity campaign. This was in the build-up to the ANC’s 2017 Nasrec conference.

In August 2018, about five months after Mkhize took up his new position, Cogta awarded a R3.9-million contract to Digital Vibes. The company was appointed to provide communications services for the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (Misa), a Cogta entity.

In May 2019, Ramaphosa moved Mkhize from Cogta to the DoH [Department of Health].

Under Mkhize’s stewardship, the DoH soon made it clear that it would tackle the NHI as a key priority.

Those plans came to fruition on 15 November 2019, when the DoH appointed Digital Vibes through a closed tender process. Digital Vibes had therefore followed Mkhize from Cogta to the DoH, in a manner of speaking.

“HIV/AIDS: Why Mbeki should apologise - Zweli Mkhize”- Part 1dated 08 May 2016 written by Zweli Mkhize at https://www.politicsweb.co.za/news-and-analysis/hivaids-why-mbeki-should-apologise–zweli-mkhize. Below are a few excerpts.

As a Health MEC, I was the longest serving of my peers, on my eleventh year when I left the portfolio in October 2004. I became an MEC after twelve years in clinical practice, as a medical practitioner in public and private practice in three countries. As MEC for Health I was running a sessional clinic in Greys hospital in Pietermaritzburg, managing an HIV and AIDS clinic as a doctor under a brilliant team led by a very experienced physician, Dr Kocheleff.

While in exile, I was stationed in Swaziland and later Zimbabwe to provide medical cover for the underground ANC community and MK combatants in those countries and their neighbours. My first patient with HIV and AIDS was diagnosed in 1987. It was with huge disbelief when a senior colleague, Dr Sydney Shongwe, referred her to me and her signs and symptoms were unmistakeable.

Both in Swaziland and Zimbabwe I had treated MK combatants who were afflicted by the scourge. So serious was the disease that members of the Umkhonto Wesizwe produced a video to bring the awareness to comrades living in Zambia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and other forward areas. There was a lot of disbelief in the existence of this new disease amongst the cadreship. Most of them were cadres who had been trained in military combat, so the film was entitled: "AS SURE AS AN AK" The message was clear. The AK was the most lethal weapon they had been trained to use, so was HIV and AIDS - it was certain to kill you!

An initiative was championed from the ANC and NGOs in partnership with the government during the days of Dr Rina Venter. A huge meeting was convened called the NATIONAL AIDS CONVENTION OF SOUTH AFRICA, (NACOSA). The first programmes to combat the disease were established, though in reality it was the post-Apartheid democratic state that initiated the first government units in the Department of Health.

Madiba [Nelson Mandela] retired, but continued to champion this cause and working with President Bill Clinton, remained prominent voices worldwide.

The NACOSA process ultimately resulted in a comprehensive strategy for the management of HIV and AIDS with the assistance of UNAIDS and WHO experts.

Pharmaceutical companies had priced the drugs very high and a whole issue arose about fighting for compulsory licensing of drugs as this matter was a calamity unfolding.

Once I was invited to Washington by Ambassador Sheila Sisulu in South African Embassy to address some meetings calm the hostility, following the article I wrote to the Washington Post.

So, Madiba went to National Executive Committee of the ANC. He requested to address the leadership and was allowed.

A number of members launched a scathing attack on Madiba, stating that he had retired and should leave state matters and go home. Most repulsive was a suggestion of those who insinuated that Madiba was propelled by the quest for money.

Within a few days a similarly fulminant article was published in the Sowetan by Dumisani Makhaye, arguing that Madiba had sold out to the pharmaceutical companies for personal benefit. In this article, it was suggested that his stance was encouraged by the finances received by his foundation from the said pharmaceutical companies.

>>13052105

“HIV/AIDS: Why Mbeki should apologise - Zweli Mkhize”- Part 2at https://www.politicsweb.co.za/news-and-analysis/hivaids-why-mbeki-should-apologise–zweli-mkhize

One day much later, long after the death of Parks Mankahlana, as I walked out of NEC venue, I heard President Mbeki call my name from behind. As I turned, Mbeki handed me a document entitled " Castro Hlongwane Foot and Mouth AiDS…" and asked me to read it. This was very unusual but I was grateful for the generosity, as I went to scan the document during lunch time. I was shocked!

I came back after lunch and requested to discuss the contents with Smuts Ngonyama, the head of the President's office, which I later briefly did. The document was a combination of completely unrelated issues but I focus on its arguments that the antigens found in HIV test have a cross reaction that gives the same outcome with a number of conditions such as foot and mouth disease antigens, and infective conditions that can be found in pregnant women. These diseases are called TORCHES in short for the causative agents ie toxoplasma, rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes Simplex.

In short, the argument was that the HIV tests is inaccurate as it can be positive in a large range of unrelated non-AIDS or non-HIV tests amongst pregnant women. This meant that the HIV tests are not reliable to indicate the retro viral infection. This meant that the diagnosis of HIV positive status will be unreliable to expose pregnant women to a toxic drug, nevirapine!

This would suggest that people would be poisoned for profit motives of pharmaceutical companies. Thus making the antiretroviral trial issue both an ethical and political matter in which commercial profiteering was recklessly exposing the lives of poor and innocent people to risk.

The "Castro Hlongwane Foot and mouth …" document was presented.

A variety of responses were received from various leaders especially the MECs of Health. Clearly this was a meeting to whip us into line from what I could see. I however welcomed the open discussion on this matter. Where my shock came was when Max Mamase Eastern Cape MEC for Health stated that it was difficult to contain the debate in health MINMEC meetings because Dr Mkhize would argue with Dr Tshabalala-Msimang, and they felt it was "Gqirha versus Gqirha. We felt maybe Mkhize wants to take over as Minister of Health," Mamase informed the meeting. [He eventually did become the Minister of Health]

“Co-Chairs’ Summary of the 3 rd Meeting of the Access to Covid-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator Facilitation Council”- https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/co-chair_summary_3rd_facilitation_council.pdf?sfvrsn=bc162d6a_1&download=true. Below are a few excerpts.

Held on 14 December 2020 and co-Chaired by Dr Zweli Mkhize, Minister of Health of South Africa and Mr Dag-Inge Ulstein, Minister of International Development, Norway, the 3 rd meeting of the ACT Accelerator Facilitation Council had the following three objectives:

• To understand evolving Pillar priorities, plans and timelines in the era of COVID-19 vaccines

• To provide input on a draft financing framework to address the ACT Accelerator funding gaps

• To consider next steps for building the necessary political support for the financing framework

The Co-Chairs note that since the last Council meeting held in November 2020, where a clear macroeconomic case for urgently investing in the ACT Accelerator was laid out, there is even more evidence to suggest that ACT-Accelerator financing can give a solid ‘return on investment’.1

[1 Global equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines estimated to generate economic benefits of at least US$ 153 billion in 2020–21, and US$ 466 billion by 2025, in 10 major economies, according to new report by the Eurasia Group, published 3 December 2020, https://www.who.int/news/item/03-12-2020-global-access-to-covid-19-vaccines-estimated-to-generateeconomic-benefits-of-at-least-153-billion-in-2020-21]

Summary of the programme – 3 rd Council Meeting, 14 December 2020

Co-Chairs: Dr Zweli Mkhize, Minister of Health, South Africa & Mr Dag-Inge Ulstein, Minister of International Development, Norway

Participation: 178 delegates & invitees online

Opening

Evolving ACT Accelerator Priorities and Timelines in the New ‘Era of COVID-19 Vaccines’

• Chair: Dr Mkhize, Minister of Health, South Africa

• Presenter: Dr Anban Pillay, Deputy Director General, Department of Health, South Africa

• Interventions (in speaking order): India, Japan, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Wellcome Trust, Civil Society Organization, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Unitaid, European Commission and International Chamber of Commerce

Developing a Comprehensive Financing Framework for the ACT Accelerator

• Chair: Mr Dag-Inge Ulstein, Minister of International Development, Norway 3

• Presenter: John-Arne Røttingen, Ambassador for Global Health, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• Interventions (in speaking order): Nepal, Germany, Japan, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, United Kingdom, United States of America, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Civil Society Organization, World Bank, National Academy of Medicine, France, Indonesia, The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

Closing summary remarks and next steps

• Intervention: France (ACT-A Charter)

• Co-Chairs: Closing remarks

“Aids drugs killed Parks, says ANC”dated 22 Mar 2002 at https://mg.co.za/article/2002-03-22-aids-drugs-killed-parks-says-anc/. [The original document, “CASTRO HLONGWANE: CARAVANS, CATS, GEESE FOOT & MOUTH AND STATISTICS. HIV/AIDS and the Struggle for the Humanisation of the African.”, can be found here http://libtv.com/7MAC/investigations/ANC_summary.htm]. Below are a few excerpts from the article.

__The late presidential spokesperson Parks Mankahlana did die of an Aids-related ailment.

A document entitled Castro Hlongwane, Caravans, Cats, Geese, Foot & Mouth and Statistics: HIV/Aids and the Struggle for the Humanisation of the African that is being sent out by the African National Congress to its structures implies that Mankahlana had Aids; it claims he was killed by antiretrovirals. The Mail & Guardian, which reported the cause of Mankahlana’s death two years ago, came under severe criticism at the time from the ruling party.__

The document also claims that 12-year-old Aids activist Nkosi Johnson died as a result of antiretrovirals that he “was forced to consume”.

The decision to dispatch the document came during an ANC national executive committee (NEC) meeting held last weekend and called to deliberate the government’s Aids policy. It was sparked by former president Nelson Mandela’s call on the government to provide free access to antiretrovirals in public hospitals.

Following the meeting the ANC released a statement termed “very confused” by medical personnel on its HIV/Aids policy, snubbing Mandela’s call. ANC members attributed the confusion to an attempt to accommodate President Thabo Mbeki’s dissident views on HIV/Aids. So while the statement announced that the government will consider rolling out the distribution of nevirapine to HIV-positive pregnant women in December this year, it also raised questions on the efficacy of this and other antiretrovirals.

The document pronounces in a sarcastic tone: “Yes, we are sex-crazy! Yes, we are diseased! Yes, we spread the deadly HI virus through our uncontrolled heterosexual sex! In this regard, yes, we are different from the [United States] and Western Europe! Yes, we, the men, abuse women and the girl-child with gay abandon! Yes, among us rape is endemic because of our culture! Yes, we do believe that sleeping with young virgins will cure us of Aids! Yes, as a result of all this, we are threatened with destruction by the HIV/Aids pandemic! Yes, what we need, and cannot afford because we are poor, are condoms and anti-retroviral drugs! Help!”

The document cites studies to illustrate that the anti-retrovirals are poison and identifies poverty and underdevelopment as the main cause of the “Aids deaths”.

Nobody, the document claims, has seen the HI virus; it disputes claims of its having been isolated. The document implies that the “controversial discovery” of the virus by two scientists, American Robert Gallo and Frenchman Luc Montagnier, and endorsed by then presidents Ronald Reagan and Jacques Chirac in 1987 was part of a cover-up of a non-finding.

The document claims the generic system the Elisa test that is used to test for the virus is also used to test for foot and mouth disease in cattle and has been proven to be faulty. Thus the inclusion of foot and mouth in the document’s title.

Looking at Q post 88, Nov 05, 2017 1:31:00 EDT

Ten days.

Darkness.

Scare tactics (MSM).

D's falling.

R's walk-away/removed.

SA US > Asia → EU

Disinformation is real.

Distractions are necessary.

Focus was US today while real happening in SA under same context (military control, martial law, missile strike (rogue) etc).

Necessary.

POTUS' Twitter attack (see above).

Important.

Why is this relevant?

What was the last Tweet by POTUS prior to SA?

Why is this relevant?

SA (1), US (2), Asia (3), EU (4).

Where is POTUS?

Why is this relevant?

Military operations.

Operators in US.

Snow White

The Great Awakening

Godfather III

Q

People seem very distracted to what is going on in the US while there is a lot happening in South Africa. Coincidence?

“Mbeki’s AIDS Denial: Grace or folly? Part IV”dated April 22, 2008, at https://www.pambazuka.org/governance/mbeki%E2%80%99s-aids-denial-grace-or-folly-part-iv. Below are a few excerpts however it is worth reading in full.

At a special meeting of the ANC’s parliamentary caucus in October 2000, Thabo Mbeki raged against senior leaders who criticised him in public, specifically on AIDS and Zimbabwe, and slammed the media for its coverage of the AIDS debate.

In contrast, he spoke approvingly about a conference in Uganda the previous month, where some 60 dissident scientists had argued convincingly that there was no scientific proof that HIV caused AIDS. He quoted from a document stating that the virus had never been isolated, and said reports that Uganda had scored significant successes in the fight against AIDS were untrue.

He told the gathered MPs that if one agreed that HIV causes AIDS, it followed that the treatment lay with drugs manufactured by Western corporations. The pharmaceutical companies therefore needed people to believe that HIV and AIDS were linked, in order to peddle their products. One drug company, which he did not name, had confessed, he said, that it had spent vast amounts of money on the search for an AIDS vaccine, but had abandoned the effort after failing to isolate the virus. This fact remained hidden from the public, Mbeki claimed, because the company’s share price would plummet if the truth were told.

He accused the CIA of being involved in a covert plot to spread the belief of an HIV/AIDS link, and cited statistics showing that 10 per cent of Africans died of AIDS. It made no sense, Mbeki argued, to focus the bulk of a state’s resources on this 10 per cent, to the detriment of the remaining 90 per cent. Drug companies continually urged governments to pay attention to a growing number of AIDS orphans, but how, asked the president, were the authorities to distinguish between the needs of AIDS orphans and orphans of any other kind?

He claimed he had the support of the editor of South Africa’s conservative daily newspaper, the Citizen, but said it was less clear that members of his own cabinet stood with him on this issue. They should declare their positions, he said, and the ANC’s MPs should join him in fighting off attempts by international forces to undermine him and the government’s agenda.

Those within the ANC who criticised him were playing into the hands of the local and foreign media – some of whom had dared to describe his views on AIDS as deranged – and unwittingly supporting the campaigns of the powerful drug companies and their allies, Western governments opposed to Mbeki’s vision of success for developing countries.

Archbishop Tutu, just as exasperated as Mandela over the government’s vacillation on AIDS, went public with what was undeniably a rebuke of Mbeki:

'It would be tremendous if our president said this is the common enemy. The stance adopted by the president has harmed his image. He has done wonderfully well – the world thinks the world of him, I want to see him succeed. I think it is silly to hold on to positions that are untenable. At the present time, everybody recognises that the president’s position is undermining his stature in the world. When the New York Times is constantly bashing us over this issue, it is not good for us or for him. He has so much going for him.'

Tutu threw his full support behind efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus. ‘Yes, this means the use of Nevirapine if that is what is available. It is irresponsible of us not to save lives we could save. It makes us appear hard-hearted where we are not. We are seen to be lacking in compassion and [seem] uncaring. Women who are raped should be put on a course to ensure that they are not infected.’

“Zikalala commits to lifestyle audits for government officials”- https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/zikalala-commits-to-lifestyle-audits-for-government-officials/. Below are a few excerpts.

KZN government supply chain management officials will undergo lifestyle audits and the province will employ a “professional, meritocratic and ethical civil service” to safeguard citizens’ interests.

KwaZulu-Natal will be one of the first provinces to subject officials to lifestyle audits as the government seeks to root out corruption and ensure that corrupt government employees are punished.

This was the commitment by KZN Premier Sihle Ziklala during his State of the Province address on Friday.

He said the province had approached the State Security Agency and SARS for assistance with implementing the lifestyle audits. [Like having the fox looking after the henhouse.]

“We were advised that the State Security is finalising certain protocols in this regard. As the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, we are committed to leading from the front in undertaking the lifestyle audits. We are confident that once processes are concluded, we will be among the first provinces to subject ourselves to this process,” he said.

He said the government was “deeply concerned” about the province’s regression regarding the recent audit cycle of municipalities and departments.

“In response to this unpalatable state of affairs, we have institutionalised ‘Operation Clean Audit’. We have demanded accountability for irregular expenditure in each department and relevant consequence management procedures. Consequence management must be visibly proved,” he said.

“Massive hail storm hits South Africa ! The streets turn into white in Benoni” - https://youtu.be/xMUpjEs6yMg [Embedded]. More collection of videos can be seen at “Severe hailstorm and flood in Johannesburg (Benoni, Alberton), Gauteng province in South Africa” - https://youtu.be/u6NkUYh89x8.

Keep in mind it is summer!

“Watch: ‘We need hard hats’ – freak hailstorms, intense floods batter Gauteng”- https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/watch-hailstorms-gauteng-flooding-where-weather-forecast-friday-26-february/

It's raining, it's pouring, it's… snowing a little bit? Bizarre weather conditions in Gauteng have brought hailstorms to the region on Friday.

Gauteng residents have been rocked by a fast-moving, intense hailstorm on Friday, creating a white dusting across parts of Johannesburg and its surrounding suburbs. Flash floods, hectic winds, and torrential rains have all caused chaos across the province, as freak weather conditions persist throughout the afternoon.

Entire malls have been flooded, whereas other locals were caught completely off-guard by the hailstorms. A Yellow Level 2 warning remains in place for most of Gauteng, as the weather system moves north towards Pretoria and Centurion. A myriad of videos uploaded to Twitter highlight just how crazy this meteorological event has been

“Atteridgeville riots: ‘Peaceful’ protest descends into chaos, as N4 blocked”- https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/atteridgeville-riots-blocked-n4-traffic-latest-updates-gauteng-friday-26-february/.

There was anarchy on the streets of Atteridgeville on Friday, as a protest became a riot. Taxis blocked the N4, and burning tyres closed-off major routes.

A morning of violence, destruction, and fiery retribution has engulfed the Atteridgeville township near Pretoria. What was initially billed as a peaceful protest degenerated into a chaotic spectacle, which also saw a blockade form on the N4.

Scattered debris, burning tyres and gatvol locals all populated the streets on Friday. The protesters are apparently taking a stand against corrupt policing and gun violence within the Atteridgeville region. However, the demonstration didn’t take long to descend into a full scale riot, and traffic on the N4 briefly came to a standstill due to a convoy of taxis.

We understand that the demo got underway at 6:00 on Friday, with a huge meet-up at the Oustad Shell garage. Dozens turned up early doors, and protester numbers swelled from there. Sadly, the situation unraveled, making Atteridgeville a ‘no-go zone’ for non-residents. Group organisers posted this update before the event started:

“We cannot pretend to be happy while we are in an abnormal situation. We cannot maintain our patience when our families are being robbed, raped, and killed. We call upon the communities of Atteridgeville and Saulsville to come and join us in our local peace march. No looting, and no mask means no participation.”

“Police to probe reports of terror gang in Mamelodi”- https://youtu.be/EByXcRFLsh8

“Police are expected to investigate reports of a reign of terror by a gang, dubbed "Boko Haram", in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria. Residents and business people claim the gang continues to harass them and demands payment for business protection at gunpoint. Minister Bheki Cele said this needs to be closely watched as there've been similar incidents before.”

>>13021549

Remember ANC’s “liberation before education”

Below is an excerpt from “Target: South Africa Part 3 (of a 4 part series)” at https://behind-the-news.com/target-south-africa-part-3-of-a-4-part-series/

ANC security began to recruit youngsters who could be brainwashed to kill on command. These youths “don’t ask questions, but just carry out orders”. The pool of such youngsters grew as the ANC/SACP campaigned with the slogan, “liberation before education”. Students were forcibly kept from attending school, and again, on the model of Pol Pot’s Cambodia, many schools were burnt to the ground. One estimate is that 5.4 million children, an entire generation, are illiterate because of this policy.

“Another school burnt down in Soshanguve” dated April 8, 2020, at https://youtu.be/pQbBJWh_aEs

“More than 1,500 schools hit by vandalism, theft [and arson] during lockdown”dated 19 May 2020 at https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2020-05-19-more-than-1500-schools-hit-by-vandalism-theft-during-lockdown/.

The vandalism of schools across the country continues to worsen during the Covid-19 lockdown — and most of it is taking place in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

Countrywide, 1,577 schools have been rocked by vandalism, thefts and break-ins. Of that number, 463 have been in KZN and 336 in Gauteng.

Announcing the stats on Tuesday evening, basic education minister Angie Motshekga said it was troubling.

“This is truly a disturbing trend that will set us back in our efforts of trying to get back the academic programme,” she said.

“We appeal to members of the public to help the police bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Because of the vandalism and theft — and in some cases arson — the department is avoiding delivering masks and sanitisers to schools before they reopen on June 1.

In just 19 days, the number of vandalised schools has risen by more than 600. On April 30, there were 962 schools that had been vandalised since the advent of the lockdown, the minister announced at the time.

One of the main targets has been computer laboratories.

“Eritrean troops’ massacre of hundreds of Axum civilians may amount to crime against humanity” - https://youtu.be/qPf1L1VbV3M

“Ethiopia: Eritrean troops’ massacre of hundreds of Axum civilians may amount to crime against humanity”- https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/02/ethiopia-eritrean-troops-massacre-of-hundreds-of-axum-civilians-may-amount-to-crime-against-humanity/. Below are a few excerpts.

• Amnesty International interviewed 41 survivors and witnesses to mass killings in November

• Troops carried out extrajudicial executions, indiscriminate shelling and widespread looting

• Satellite imagery analysis shows evidence consistent with new burial sites

Eritrean troops fighting in Ethiopia’s Tigray state systematically killed hundreds of unarmed civilians in the northern city of Axum on 28-29 November 2020, opening fire in the streets and conducting house-to-house raids in a massacre that may amount to a crime against humanity, Amnesty International said today in a new report, https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr25/3730/2021/en/.

Amnesty International spoke to 41 survivors and witnesses – including in-person interviews with recently arrived refugees in eastern Sudan and phone interviews with people in Axum – as well as 20 others with knowledge of the events. They consistently described extrajudicial executions, indiscriminate shelling and widespread looting after Ethiopian and Eritrean troops led an offensive to take control of the city amid the conflict with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in mid-November.

“The evidence is compelling and points to a chilling conclusion. Ethiopian and Eritrean troops carried out multiple war crimes in their offensive to take control of Axum. Above and beyond that, Eritrean troops went on a rampage and systematically killed hundreds of civilians in cold blood, which appears to constitute crimes against humanity,” said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International's Director for East and Southern Africa.

“This atrocity ranks among the worst documented so far in this conflict. Besides the soaring death toll, Axum’s residents were plunged into days of collective trauma amid violence, mourning and mass burials.”

On 19 November 2020, Ethiopian and Eritrean military forces took control of Axum in a large-scale offensive, killing and displacing civilians with indiscriminate shelling and shooting.

In the nine days that followed, the Eritrean military engaged in widespread looting of civilian property and extrajudicial executions.

Witnesses could easily identify the Eritrean forces. They drove vehicles with Eritrean license plates, wore distinctive camouflage and footwear used by the Eritrean army and spoke Arabic or a dialect of Tigrinya not spoken in Ethiopia. Some bore the ritual facial scars of the Ben Amir, an ethnic group absent from Ethiopia. Finally, some of the soldiers made no secret of their identity; they openly told residents they were Eritrean.

According to witnesses, the Eritrean troops unleashed the worst of the violence on 28-29 November. The onslaught came directly after a small band of pro-TPLF militiamen attacked the soldiers’ base on Mai Koho mountain on the morning of 28 November. The militiamen were armed with rifles and supported by residents brandishing improvised weapons, including sticks, knives and stones.

“Eastern Cape name changes: 'The ANC has gone too far', says DA”- https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/267929899/eastern-cape-name-changes-the-anc-has-gone-too-far-says-da. Below are a few excerpts.

• The party says the ANC sidelined submissions from the public, rejecting 139 objections.

• The DA says the government is simply engaging in a box-ticking exercise under the guise of 'transformation'.

After Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa gazetted the renaming of Eastern Cape towns and airports, despite opposing submissions, the DA said the ANC government had gone too far.

Mthethwa in a government gazette, on Tuesday officially approved the change of Port Elizabeth International Airport to Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport as well as the change of East London Airport to King Phalo Airport.

Uitenhage has been changed to Kariega, Port Elizabeth is now Gqeberha, while King William's Town will be known as Qonce.

"In answer to legitimate concerns about the cost of the project and suggestions on how the money could be better spent to invigorate the economy and maintain and update infrastructure, the department had the audacity to reply in a statement that 'this transformation agenda seeks to redress the imbalances of the past, therefore no quantifiable price tag could be put on it'," said Van Dyk.

“Eastern Cape name changes no more than cheap ANC politicking”- https://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/eastern-cape/eastern-cape-name-changes-no-more-than-cheap-anc-politicking/. Below are a few excerpts.

The name changes of, among others, Port Elizabeth, Maclear and Uitenhage, serve as clear proof that the ANC considers cheap politicking and its failed ideology more important than the financial crisis in which South Africa finds itself.

The costs related to changing place names are immense and the money should rather have been used to bring economic relief on grass-roots level in the Eastern Cape province.

Various parties participated in the official processes and pointed out that the project is not financially viable.

This is a dear price for taxpayers to pay for cheap ANC politicking just before the municipal elections.

The ANC driving its transformation agenda amid a pandemic and economic crisis is unacceptable, especially seeing as the people of the Eastern Cape are constantly being delivered severe blows by, among other things, an ongoing drought.

“317 girls taken from Nigerian school”- https://youtu.be/PSoObDO7JmI

“The Nigerian government is again scrambling to secure the return of schoolchildren taken in the latest mass kidnapping in Zamfara State. Isa Sanusi, from Amnesty International Nigeria spoke with eNCA's Thembekile Mrototo.”

“Africa Finance Corporation hires Blackstone’s Zarou CEO, Sameh Shenouda, as CIO”- https://southafricatoday.net/africa/africa-finance-corporation-hires-blackstones-zarou-ceo-sameh-shenouda-as-cio/. Below are a few excerpts.

Africa Finance Corporation, one of the biggest investors in infrastructure solutions in Africa, is pleased to announce the appointment of Sameh Shenouda as its new Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer.

Egyptian-born Mr. Shenouda was most recently the CEO of Zarou, a developer, owner and operator of infrastructure projects in Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia that is 100% owned by The Blackstone Group. Previously, he was the Head of Infrastructure at CDC Group Plc, the UK development finance institution [owned by the UK government]. Mr. Shenouda built CDC’s direct infrastructure equity business, which, under his leadership, invested in excess of US$1 billion in Africa and South Asia.

Following Mr. Shenouda’s appointment, Oliver Andrews now retires from the Corporation, after 13 distinguished years at AFC, and nearly 40 years in project development, infrastructure development, investing, public-private partnerships and strategic advisory.

During his tenure as CIO, AFC deployed over US$8.7 billion across 35 countries in Power, Transport & Logistics, Heavy Industries, Telecommunications and Natural Resources. He was pioneer of the project development asset class at AFC, having led several signature transactions including the 350MW Cenpower Kpone IPP project in Tema, Ghana; the 60MW Red Sea Power wind farm in Ghoubet, Djibouti; Dynamic Mining bauxite mine in Guinea; and ARISE, a pan-African infrastructure and industrial platform. The pioneer Chairman of Africa Infrastructure Development Association, Mr. Andrews led AFC’s accreditation with the Green Climate Fund. Formerly working at the World Bank, the African Development Bank, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), TCI Infrastructure and the Gambia Ports Authority, Mr. Andrews received the Champion of Finance Award in 2017 from EMEA Finance for his contribution to the investment industry.

“Sameh joins AFC at a pivotal time as we scale up our aspirations for accelerated development impact on the continent as well as reconfigure our investment approach to address the challenges from Africa’s first economic downturn in 25 years,” said Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of AFC. “Sameh brings deep knowledge and innovative thinking to the core sectors within which we operate as a highly successful financier in Africa’s infrastructure space.

Remember;

Per The Africa Finance Corporation website at https://www.africafc.org/about-us/introduction-from-our-president-ceo/;

With 27 member countries, and an investment footprint that has disbursed over US$7 billion across 30 countries in Africa in the Power, Transport, Telecommunications, Heavy Industries and Natural Resources sectors, we are a truly Pan-African institution. We have spearheaded pioneering infrastructure solutions across Africa, from Cape to Cairo, such as 385km Bakwena Toll Road in South Africa, to the Carbon Holding petrochemicals facility in Egypt.

“The secret way South Africa’s toll fees are calculated” at https://mybroadband.co.za/news/motoring/369723-the-secret-way-south-africas-toll-fees-are-calculated.html states;

OUTA believes there is a possibility that concessionaires [like Bakwena] could be benefiting from excessive profits, part of which may require credit to the road users in reduced toll fees or returns to SANRAL.

“SAPS warn security companies”- https://youtu.be/bo8uc5-t8NM

The police have warned private security companies they should know their place - or face embarrassment and possible arrest.

Take note;

0:29 – “The SAPS employs about 190 000 personnel of which 40 000 are civilian staff. Meanwhile the private sector regulator says there’s about 570 000 registered security guards.”

“COVID-19 and traditional medicine” - Chairperson of the World Health Organisation's Regional Expert Advisory Committee on Traditional Medicines for COVID-19- https://youtu.be/Cyiej6b7GZY

“Professor Motlalepula Matsabisa, Head of Indigenous Knowledge at Pharmacology at the University of the Free State and chairperson of the World Health Organisation's Regional Expert Advisory Committee on Traditional Medicines for COVID-19 spoke with eNCA's Anlie Hattingh.”

Keep in mind.

“Myth on virgins cure HIV and AIDS: Action with traditional healers”at http://archive.kubatana.net/html/archive/women/060915gcn.asp states;

Girl Child Network receives an average of 8 rape cases per day and an estimated 6 000 girls report rape in Zimbabwe annually. The youngest rape survivor in Zimbabwe is a day old baby from Chitungwiza after two others aged 3 days and two weeks.

Traditional healers (bogus in most cases) have been implicated in prescription of virgins as possible cure of HIV and AIDS resulting in rape of girls even by their own fathers. Girls aged 0-12 years have become victim to the myth that virgins cure HIV and AIDS and GCN has tackled some of the worst cases of minors raped whilst in the custody of their own fathers. The other myth is that breasts and girls’ genital organs can be used for lucky charms to attract customers in a shop.

GCN fears that if a massive report on rape is conducted across the country in one year only reported rape cases could be well over 40 000. In most instances orphaned young girls where the mother is deceased are the most vulnerable.

“South Africans rape children as cure for Aids” - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jun/29/southafrica.aids.

An estimated 31 per cent of Nelpruit's population of 600,000 is infected. Now the city has another problem, a dramatic increase in child rape caused by the myth that sex with a virgin cures HIV.

Until 2000 most rape victims were adults. but there was an abrupt turn-around from 2001, when 65 to 70 per cent of victims were children, some as young as two weeks old.

As this South African study, https://scnc.ukzn.ac.za/doc/Health/Aids/LeclercMadlala-S_Virgin_cleansing_myth_HIV-AIDS_ethnomedicine.pdf, states, “Certain traditional healers were blamed for perpetuating the myth, as it was said that healers advised their HIV infected clients to seek a virgin for ‘cleansing’.”

Even the UN talks about it at https://africa.unwomen.org/en/news-and-events/stories/2020/05/protection-of-women-and-girls-with-disabilities-during-covid-19;

Harmful myths make women with disabilities easy targets. In some regions in Burundi for instance, it is believed that having sex with a virgin girl or a girl with albinism may cure HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Girls and young women with disabilities are often perceived as virgins and targeted because of their disabilities.

>>13068561

Also

“African treatment for headache”- https://youtu.be/fztZQyjQ_CQ

Would you want him to treat you for a headache?

“Enter the Covid passport: A new apartheid system”- https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2021/02/05/enter-the-covid-passport-a-new-apartheid-system/

I’m on tangent here, go with me. So, what really do multiple citizenships really mean? I think well at the core of it is the passport. According to the Oxford dictionary, a passport is an official document issued by a government certifying the holder’s identity and citizenship and entitling them to travel under its protection to and from foreign countries. That’s really long. Anyway, it simply means you can pass through ports. Move about. That the gist of it. A freedom of movement if the conditions are ideal.

A new passport in on the cards. Out with the old, in with the new. The whole thing is undergoing a revolution, so the whispers say. One old grandee of British politics has suggested the idea of “Covid Passports”. What are these you may ask? Let me explain.

In this new world, this Covid passport would allow an individual to travel by being digitally tracked around the world. In essence a new type of freedom. Freedom, that god-given right. My favourite! Where am I? I was talking about passports. This new Covid digital passport would contain information about whether you’ve had the vaccine or not and what Covid test results were. That’s really long as well.

So, it means without a Covid passport you wouldn’t be able to travel abroad. That’s a big problem. I know some of you conspiracy nuts out there are already screaming at the paper. Did you just say they can digitally track you around the world? Yes, that’s the idea. Take my example from earlier, I mean if say the American government really wanted to digitally track Jay-Z they could. In a time of war and make no mistake we are in one, a Covid vaccine war. This is a frightening infringement on that god-given right of Freedom. A vaccine apartheid if you like.

Take note: “Apartheid: made in Britain: Richard Dowden explains how Churchill, Rhodes and Smuts caused black South Africans to lose their rights” - https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/apartheid-made-britain-richard-dowden-explains-how-churchill-rhodes-and-smuts-caused-black-south-africans-lose-their-rights-1370856.html

https://www.thoughtco.com/pass-laws-during-apartheid-43492 states;

In 1952, the government passed an even more stringent law that required all African men age 16 and over to carry a "reference book" (replacing the previous passbook) which held their personal and employment information. (Attempts to force women to carry passbooks in 1910, and again during the 1950s, caused strong protests.)

The passbook was similar to a passport in that it contained details about the individual, including a photograph, fingerprint, address, the name of his employer, how long the person had been employed, and other identifying information. Employers often entered an evaluation of the pass holder's behavior.

As defined by law, an employer could only be a White person. The pass also documented when permission was requested to be in a certain region and for what purpose, and whether that request was denied or granted.

Under the law, any governmental employee could remove these entries, essentially removing permission to stay in the area. If a passbook didn't have a valid entry, officials could arrest its owner and put him in prison.

Colloquially, passes were known as the dompas, which literally meant the "dumb pass." These passes became the most hated and despicable symbols of apartheid.

“SA's corruption emergency | Report into R2bn fraud at Eskom” - https://youtu.be/vj2Z3lUbid0

“A preliminary forensic report claims that over R2-billion has been stolen from Eskom, through a network of non-existent service suppliers and well-placed officials. Kaizer Kganyago, spokesperson for the Special Investigating Unit spoke with eNCA's Thembekile Mrototo.”

“Eskom facing R2 billion fraud probe – report”- https://businesstech.co.za/news/energy/471570/eskom-facing-r2-billion-fraud-probe-report/ states;

A preliminary forensic report claims that over R2 billion has been stolen from state power firm Eskom through a network of ghost service suppliers and well-placed officials, according to City Press.

The money was allegedly funnelled via fraudulent transactions over the last three years, and involved numerous companies invoicing Eskom for work that was never carried out.

The report was compiled by forensic investigators from Seekers Finders Forensic Auditors and Risk Services after a whistle-blower alleged that prominent Eskom employees were colluding with service providers to generate the fraudulent invoices.

Companies were paid for services including labour for coal outage plans and refurbishing of injectors, which were never carried out.

At least three Eskom officials have been implicated, City Press reported.

The report has been handed over to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which has confirmed it is investigating certain issues contained therein.

Last week, Eskom chief executive officer, André de Ruyter suspended chief procurement officer Solly Tshitangano for his failure to turn around the company’s procurement division.

De Ruyter said that Tshitango had been tasked with cutting Eskom’s annual expenditure in its procurement division by at least 4%, but failed to do so.

Eskom spends around R140 billion per year on foods and services, which De Ruyter said was more than the utility should be paying.

The debt-stricken power utility faced further scrutiny after lawmakers criticized a housing project for workers that cost more than five times the initial estimate and was eventually abandoned, Bloomberg reported.

The project was scrapped and remains unfinished, while Eskom is alleged to have spent billions of rand on rental accommodation and transportation for its employees, the committee said in a statement.

The loss-making utility relies on government to service R464 billion rand of debt and is at the center of investigations into allegations of widespread corruption during the administration of former president Jacob Zuma.

Eskom had shown a “serious disregard for taxpayer money,” and the matter must be investigated and action taken against all involved, the committee said.

“Billions of BAT cigarettes smuggled through Mali”- https://youtu.be/0aTqn5tOywA

“Billions of cigarettes, most made by British American Tobacco are reportedly smuggled north through Mali every year on their way to the so called grey markets. This has been revealed in a new report by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project.”

“Fita calls for investigations into ‘inter alia smuggling’ against British American Tobacco” at https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/general/2447966/fita-calls-for-investigations-into-inter-alia-smuggling-against-british-american-tobacco/ states;

The Fair-trade Independent Tobacco Association (Fita) said that it was not surprised by the revelations into allegations of inter alia smuggling against British American Tobacco (BAT)and a host of other multinationals in West Africa.

This was revealed in a recent report by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project.

Fita has since called for further investigations into these allegations.

“It appears Big Tobacco feels they can indefinitely continue to act with impunity, not only in South Africa but throughout the entire African continent,” Fita said in a statement.

“We further call for the immediate release of the findings of the independent investigation which was commissioned by BATSA in 2016 into the host of allegations such as corruption, money-laundering, and espionage against this particular multinational.”

Fita said that it has long stated on record that multinational cigarette manufacturers “are the proverbial wolves in sheep’s clothing who seek to divert the attention away from their multiple shenanigans by continuously pointing their dirty fingers at smaller independent local cigarette manufacturers.”

It said that these manufactures were using the media to direct law enforcement agencies and government bodies to their competitors whose operations and influence are incomparable.

“What is most shocking about these new allegations is the revelation that BAT knowingly and internationally started to oversupply cigarettes to Mali soon after the north fell to militants, knowing its product would be fodder for traffickers, according to dozens of interviews,” reads the statement.

The narrative advanced by multinationals tobacco manufacturers only serve to advance the commercial interests and that not in any way done with the best intentions of any state they trade in, despite what they seek to portray.

“They have repeatedly been caught with their pants down throughout the globe while using their power and influence to point the authorities towards their commercial competitors.”

“Judge Johann Kriegler weighs in on the Judicial Conduct Tribunal into Judge Hlophe's conduct” - https://youtu.be/3u625raywQw. Posted Dec 7, 2020

“Ex-ConCourt judge calls for Hlophe’s suspension over Bongo ruling”- https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/courts/2448585/ex-concourt-judge-calls-for-hlophes-suspension-over-bongo-ruling/

Freedom Under Law has called for Western Cape High Court Judge John Hlophe’s head following his dismissal of former state security minister Bongani Bongo’s bribery and corruption case.

Hlophe delivered his judgement on Friday, 26 February, ruling that Bongo could not be found guilty of the corruption charge due to insufficient evidence.

Bongo was accused of trying to disrupt a parliamentary inquiry into state capture at Eskom on 10 October 2017.

Freedom Under Law chairperson Johann Kriegler, who is a retired justice of the Constitutional Court (ConCourt), said the organisation was concerned about the implications for the administration of justice of Hlophe’s ruling.

“This particular decision is clearly wrong and shows what harm just one dishonest judge can do. Since he tried to pervert the course of justice against Mr Zuma 13 years ago, we have maintained that Judge Hlophe is unfit to be a judge,” he said in a statement on Monday.

Kriegler argued that Hlophe’s reasoning to dismiss Bongo’s case demonstrated “how dangerous it has been to allow the judge to remain on the bench”.

“An exemplary case of corruption has been frustrated, the corrupt deed has gone unpunished and decent public servants have been defamed.

“We now publicly and urgently repeat our submission to the Judicial Service Commission (SCA) that Judge Hlophe be suspended pending the conclusion of the proceedings for his removal from office.

“His conduct in the case against Mr Bongo constitutes yet another act of gross misconduct unfitting him for judicial office,” Kriegler concluded.

Meanwhile, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Western Cape regional spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said on 702 last Friday, they would study Hlophe’s judgement before considering their options.

“The NPA notes the decision of the High Court of South Africa, Western Cape division, and will study the judgement before considering its options,” he said.

“Zimbabwe's Vice-President Kembo Mohadi resigns”- https://youtu.be/TCiHGwmvVjU

“Zimbabwe's Vice-President Kembo Mohadi is stepping down in the midst of a sex scandal. He says he's doing so to spare the government embarrassment. Mohadi is accused of having intimate relationships with married women, and college students in government scholarship programmes. Sally Burdett speaks to eNCA's Zimbabwe Correspondent Pindai Dube.”

“Mmusi Maimane alleges continuing corrupt relationship between Guptas, Eskom” - https://youtu.be/HfVfaPE6J50

“Eskom deal exposed: Are the Guptas still laundering money out of SA?”- https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/guptas-deal-eskom-optimum-money-laundering-south-africa-bermuda/

Have we gone back in time to 2017? A convoluted deal involving Eskom, Optimum, and an alleged Gupta company may still be funding the Indian billionaires.

A string of explosive allegations have been tabled by Mmusi Maimane on Monday, as the former leader of the opposition held a press conference to announce findings from investigations lead by the One SA Movement. He has accused the Guptas of ‘being on the verge of receiving a multi-million dollar windfall’ from a deal brokered with Eskom.

As you’d expect from a supposed money laundering operation that includes the Guptas, there is an incredibly convoluted set of events that needs to be unpacked first. According to the research from Maimane and his colleagues, the brothers still have a shell company that is feeding off of Optimum, and in turn, organising a way to funnel millions out of the country.

A top associate of the Guptas is acting as a ‘middle-man’ in the deal, and money has apparently been sent directly to the fugitive family via a channel in Bermuda. Maimane is highly concerned that Eskom is still funding the Indian billionaires.

 – A Gupta shell-company ‘has been given the green light’ to claim $100 million from Optimum coal mines (Eskom’s supplier).

 – Eskom ‘has given power to Gupta affiliates’ to cover their tracks in corruption linked to inflated coal contracts.

 – Akash Garg, a best man at the Gupta Sun City wedding, owned 50% of Centaur Ventures; ‘one of Optimum’s top creditors’.

 – Centaur ‘laundered the Gupta’s coal money’ out of SA – via Bermuda.

 – In September 2020, Eskom and Centaur voted to approve a business rescue plan for Optimum.

 – This gives Centaur executive power over Optimum, and Maimane insists ‘the red flags cannot be ignored’.

The One SA movement will write to Eskom’s board to reverse the decision to support the business rescue plan for Optimum. Meanwhile, Mmusi Maimane wants full access to the terms and conditions of their deal with Eskom.

Centaur can also expect a forensic review, with Maimane confirming he will ask Pravin Gordhan to launch an audit into the company’s financial activities since 2016. The Guptas, he says, ‘cannot continue to benefit from Eskom corruption’.

“State Capture Inquiry | Koko grilled about email” - Eskom- https://youtu.be/iizr3MZW8cE

“Eskom has dominated events at the state capture commission on Monday with former head of generation Matshela Koko on the stand. On Sunday the city press newspaper front page story focused on the special investing unit probing R2 billion in potential Eskom fraud that may have happened in the past three years. Mining and Energy Advisor with the Energy Expert Coalition, Ted Blom, discusses this.”

Noteworthy statement;

4:25 – “With deepest respect, the false invoicing and the fronting started in 2001. I have evidence, I handed it to Eskom legal team. They conveniently made it disappear. I still have that evidence… As we sit here now, there are billions of rands of irregularities still going on today.”

“Police seize cocaine haul worth R583 million off Saldanha coast”- https://southafricatoday.net/south-africa-news/western-cape/police-seize-cocaine-haul-worth-r583-million-off-saldanha-coast/

In an extensive operation led by Western Cape organised crime narcotics unit detectives comprising various tactical operational units, police have seized a massive cocaine haul from a fishing vessel off the Saldanha coast on Monday evening 1 March 2021.

The intelligence-driven, evening operation saw various tactical forces descending on the vessel where 973 blocks of compressed cocaine, estimated at R583 million, were found in three compartments of the vessel.

Ten suspects were subsequently arrested on charges of dealing in drugs.

They are expected to appear in court in Vredenburg soon.

Further investigations continue as the detectives determine the origins as well as the intended destination of the consignment. SAPS management has hailed the find as a step in the right direction in efforts to deal with the illicit drug trade.

“Molefe tells Zondo: ‘Don’t sweep Ramaphosa’s doings under the carpet’” | State Capture- https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/molefe-tells-zondo-dont-sweep-ramaphosas-doings-under-the-carpet/. Below are a few excerpts.

Former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe has emphasised to the State Capture Commission that President Cyril Ramaphosa plays a key role in his evidence

Former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe has warned the State Capture Commission against attempting to cover up testimony that may be damning for President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“The fact that that was not mentioned while we were recapping that was not mentioned, I hope that it is not being swept under the carpet and being forgotten conveniently. Just to make sure chairperson that it did register and has a certain amount of weight that it attached because Glencore and Optimum are at the centre of all the files that are behind me,” he said to the commission’s chairperson Raymond Zondo.

When he first appeared before the state capture commission in January, Molefe said there was a conflict of interest on Ramaphosa’s part, as he had been appointed chairperson of government’s Eskom war room while at the same time, being a shareholder at Glencore, which does work with the state-owned entity.

“When the Glencore deal was done in 2012 and he bought shares, he was made chairperson. In 2014 he became deputy president of the country and chairperson of the war room,” he said.

Essentially, Molefe accused the president of using his political influence to promote the interests of Glencore.

“South Africa speechless following latest murder of Rwandan dissident”- https://www.theafricareport.com/68763/south-africa-speechless-following-latest-murder-of-rwandan-dissident/. Below are a few excerpts.

Rwandan Seif Bamporiki, a leading opposition politician, was shot dead in South Africa, where had been living in exile. His murder has left South Africa government officials confounded – even though this is far from the first case of murder of a South Africa-based, high-profile Rwandan critical of the regime of President Paul Kagame.

We still don’t know what to make of it,” a senior official tells The Africa Report. “The police haven’t told us anything as yet, so we don’t know.”

Local co-ordinator for the Rwanda National Congress (RNC) Seif Bamporiki was shot while delivering a bed in to a customer in the Europa informal settlement in Nyanga, outside Cape Town.

It could have been passed off as just another robbery in one of the most deadly peace-time neighbourhoods in the world, were it not for one thing: witnesses say the killer’s gun had a silencer.

“Our criminals are not that sophisticated that they would have guns with silencers,” says the official. “That is someone hired from outside.”

Other possibilities exists: that Bamporiki was involved in shady dealings or organised crime – also rife in that part of Cape Town – and that this was a deal gone wrong.

But RNC spokesperson Etienne Mutabazi says Bamporiki’s murder “was executed in a similar modus operandi of luring the victim in a compromising and insecure environment for assassination”.

On New Year’s Eve in 2013, one of RNC’s founders, Patrick Karegeya, was found strangled in his Michelangelo Hotel room in Sandton, Johannesburg’s posh business hub, after being called there by someone he knew.

Three Rwandan suspects, including the “friend”, left South Africa within hours.

Pretoria has since requested the extradition of two suspects for prosecution, with no success so far.

Fellow RNC founder Kayumba Nyamwasa has survived four attempts on his life since fleeing to South Africa in 2010.

Officially, Rwanda has not made any comment about Bamporiki’s death. Like many other Rwandan dissidents, he was no longer regarded a Rwandan citizen since his passport was revoked by the Rwandan government in 2012 – despite a ruling by the African Court on Human and People’s Rights that this was unlawfully done.

South Africa expelled Rwandan diplomats it suspected were involved in Karegeya’s murder, and Rwanda followed suit by expelling diplomats at South Africa’s high commission in Kigali.

Rwanda has strained relations with a number of its neighbours, including the DRC, Uganda and Burundi.

There is also unease in Pretoria about the refugees participating in Rwandan politics, especially since there are accusations of opposition supporters in South Africa being involved in plans for militant attacks on Rwanda. The Rwandan government has also called the exiles “fugitives from justice” and has accused South Africa of harbouring them.

“But we do have a responsibility of protecting them because the assassinations [of Karegeya and the attempts on Nyamwasa’s life] show that their lives would be in danger in Rwanda,” says the former official.

“For now, let’s wait for the police to make a finding,” he adds about this latest murder.

“Community raises concerns about new mine in Limpopo”- https://youtu.be/1hHjc1kmTok

“Members from the Maandagshoek farming community outside Burgersfort in Limpopo, have accused Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe of being behind a mine that recently started operating on land, they lodged claims against. The community says the Nkwe Platinum Mine is guarded by armed security. The minister has denied the allegations.”

“Analysis of Brian Molefe's State Capture testimony: Ted Blom”- https://youtu.be/QT4vvjTCVM8

“Former Eskom CEO, Brian Molefe, was back at the State Capture Commission today. He says he hopes the claims that he made about President Cyril Ramaphosa and Glencore were not being swept under the carpet. In focus was a deal that saw a Gupta-linked company being paid hundreds of millions of rand in advance for coal. Without this money, Tegeta would not have been able to buy Optimum coal mine from Glencore. Previously it has been claimed that Eskom officials squeezed Glencore out and forced it to sell. Energy specialist Ted Blom shares more.”

He does discuss its history and mentions the ‘4 ugly sisters’; “Anglo American, Glencore, Rand Mines and Iscor.”

“Mozambique conflict | SA private militia allegedly involved”- https://youtu.be/jyKMJ76rM3o

“Amnesty International's David Matsinhe spoke with eNCA's Jane Dutton.”

“COVID-19 2nd wave variant neutralises itself: Nzimande”- https://youtu.be/AusedwprJEw

“It's been revealed those infected with the newest COVID-19 variant are not only protected against this variant in future but also against earlier ones. The announcement was made by Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande [SACP].”

How convenient.

“Dr. Akinola Olojo dissects the notorious abductions in Nigeria” - https://youtu.be/SthtGSWFB-A

“Dr. Akinola Olojo, senior researcher in the Transnational Threats and International Crime Programme at the Institute for Security Studies chats to Thami Ngubeni about the spate and history of abductions of school girls and boys in Nigeria.”

“Nigeria kidnappings: Rescue operation underway after 317 students were abducted”dated 26 February 2021 at https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/nigeria-kidnapping-students-abducted-february-2021/. Below are a few excerpts however it provides a good breakdown of kidnappings in the country since 2014.

Last week, 42 people were taken by a gang from a boys school in nearby Niger state. In December, more than 300 boys were kidnapped from a school in Kankara, in President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state of Katsina, while he was visiting the region.

The boys were later released but the incident triggered outrage and memories of the kidnappings of schoolgirls by jihadists in Dapchi and Chibok that shocked the world.

The federal government has not yet officially commented on this latest mass kidnapping. Several hundred girls are unaccounted for after armed bandits raided a school in northwestern Nigeria, a teacher says.

Their disappearance raises fears that Nigeria has been hit by another mass kidnapping – the hallmark of criminal gangs and extremist Islamist groups.

Boko Haram gunmen seize 276 girls aged between 12 and 17 from the Government Girls Secondary School in the remote town of Chibok in northeastern Borno state on April 14, 2014.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau claims responsibility in a video and vows to sell the girls as slave brides.

Boko Haram says they have converted to Islam and will not be released unless militant fighters held in custody are freed.

In April 2016, on the eve of the abduction’s second anniversary, a “proof of life” video emerges showing 15 of the girls in black hijabs.

The following month the Nigerian army confirms the first of the schoolgirls has been found. Aged 19, she has a four-month-old baby and is found with a man she describes as her husband near Boko Haram’s Sambisa forest enclave.

In October, 21 of the girls are freed following talks brokered by Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Local sources say four jihadist prisoners were freed in return.

The group refused to free Leah Sharibu, then 15, as she would not convert to Islam. The only Christian among the hostages, she still remains in captivity three years on.

“SA lockdown | Charges to be laid against police officers”- https://youtu.be/YPQdB1XCMco

“While scores of arrests have been made during lockdown, complaints are also being laid against members of the police. eNCA's reporter Nqobile Madlala was in Pretoria."

“SCARY! SAPS' entire DNA system is down, is Tito resigning?”- https://youtu.be/l_Y3gpLOz_I

“Saps’ forensic DNA system has been down since June 2020, says lobby group” - https://dailystar.co.za/2021/03/02/saps-forensic-dna-system-has-been-down-since-june-2020-says-lobby-group/. Below are a few excerpts.

Civil rights organisation Action Society on Tuesday claimed that the Forensic Science Laboratory’s (FSL) electronic registry system – which manages evidence for DNA analysis for the South African Police Service (Saps) – has been down for almost a year now.

Action Society’s spokesperson Dr Rineé Pretorius warned that this could have an enormous impact on the processing of DNA tests as it is now done manually, especially regarding rape cases.

Pretorius said a Saps report released in November 2020 had revealed a backlog in 117,736 DNA samples that were recorded. He said the fact that the system has been down since June could lead to the latest figures, due to be announced on Tuesday, being far worse.

Pretorius said government could not allow the failure to process DNA samples to bring the criminal justice system to its knees.

“The matter needs to be addressed urgently. We have the necessary technology (which is not maintained) and a rape conviction rate of 7, 8%: South Africa’s government is failing its citizens! When it comes to these essential services, politics must be pushed aside.”

Action Society said it approached the head of the FSL, Major General Edward Ngokha, for an update on the system’s state of affairs but he refused to comment.

“The pressure group argues that the problem can only be solved if the government is willing to engage in partnerships with private laboratories, which have the resources and capacity to help. Given the first critical 48 hours of a case, Action Society’s proposal for community centres, where victims has access to private detectives and trauma counsellors, is extremely relevant.”

Action Society is also calling for the implementation of special sexual offenses courts to fast-track gender-based violence (GBV) convictions.

“The state must get a grip on the wheel of justice by addressing the DNA problems with urgency. If the government is serious about GBV, they should use every resource at their disposal to address the DNA backlog.”

“State Capture: Molefe’s ‘evidence’ Ramaphosa was Optimum non-exec”- https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/state-capture-molefes-evidence-ramaphosa-was-optimum-non-exec/

Former Eskom CEO Brian Molefe no doubt did some digging to prove that President Cyril Ramaphosa was a non-executive director of Optimum Coal Mine. He returned to the State Capture Commission on Wednesday, March 3, 2021.

When he appeared the day before, evidence leader advocate Pule Seleka, former Glencore CEO Clinton Ephron denied Ramaphosa was the chairperson of Optimum.

“Last night I was able to print a sens announcement from Optimum, which is JSE announcements when listed companies make changes and it lists Mr Ramaphosa as being a non-executive director of the company, Optimum,” Molefe said to the commission.

He went on to tell the commission that several other publications went on to report on the announcement. Molefe took issue with the fact that Ephron’s statement was not made under oath, which meant the commission could not particularly pursue it.

“So in my opinion, I think there is sufficient evidence to show that Mr Ramaphosa was indeed chairman, It is just convenient that Mr Clint did not say it under oath,” he said.

According to the evidence leader, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office said an official affidavit would only be filed once Brian Molefe completed his testimony. Ramaphosa has himself once labelled Molefe’s allegations as “untruths” – however his official response will add far more depth to what he has to say.

Molefe has made it a point to highlight during his testimony that Ramaphosa played a key role in some of the wrongdoing at Eskom. He said there was a conflict of interest on Ramaphosa’s part, as he had been appointed chairperson of government’s Eskom war room while at the same time, being a shareholder at Glencore, which does work with the state-owned entity.

“When the Glencore deal was done in 2012 and he bought shares, he was made chairperson. In 2014 he became deputy president of the country and chairperson of the war room,” he said.

“One would have expected that, as corporate governance requires, there must be a cooling off period. He is a person who has been saying we must renegotiate effectively a R8bn move and becomes the de facto chairperson of Eskom”

Molefe accused Ramaphosa of using his political influence to serve the interests of the company.

“Eskom: Optimum received R1,8bn prepayment on coal with Ramaphosa as board chairperson #Zondo” | State Capturedated 9th December 2020 at https://www.biznews.com/energy/2020/12/09/optimum-eskom-prepayment. Below are a few excerpts.

In 2012, Cyril Ramaphosa was appointed chairperson and non-executive director of Optimum coal mine. Ramaphosa was the black economic empowerment partner for Glencore International which owned 67.77% in shares. Optimum is South Africa’s sixth-largest coal producer and fourth-largest exporter of the commodity. It owns two operating mines, both located in Mpumalanga. While Ramaphosa disinvested from his business interests in order to avoid conflict of interest, the Zondo Commission has heard how Eskom arranged to pay R1,8bn to Optimum instead of Tegeta Resources. The latter was owned by the Guptas and set to take control of Optimum through a guarantee issued by Eskom. Later, evidence would emerge of how Glencore was strong-armed into selling Optimum to the Guptas – Bernice Maune.

Suzanne Daniels, the former head of legal and compliance at Eskom has told Judge Ray Zondo that Eskom approved a pre-payment of R1,8bn to Optimum coal mine. The payment was reviewed by all board members and signed off by then group CEO Matshela Koko and CFO Anoj Singh, both executives believed to have worked closely with the Guptas.

When questioned by evidence leader Adv Pule Seleke about the payments, Daniels said it was to be a direct payment to Optimum, which was owned by Glencore International. President Cyril Ramaphosa was the chairman of Optimum at the time and a BEE partner to Glencore through his Shanduka Resources company.

“In essence it was to prepay for coal to Optimum and not from Tegeta. This was a request to consider payment of R1,7bn upfront. for up to 1 year of coal supply,” said Daniels.

Daniels also testified that:

• There were emails exchanged between Eric Wood, CEO of Regiments Capital (a consulting agency used by the Guptas and Salim Essa to facilitate government business)

• An email address from a portal registered under ‘Business Man’ was used to communicate with Matshela Koko, Singh and Daniels. This email address would issue instructions, review documents and send changes to agreements.

• The ‘Business Man’ email address made changes to the agreement for Optimum, instructing Wood

• Daniels denies she made amendments to the Optimum agreement and sent out drafts about this.

Last week, former Eskom group CEO Matshela Koko said he was axed from his position in 2018 because he had chased R1,4bn owed to Eskom by Optimum coal. He testified Ramaphosa had axed him to protect his interests in the mine.

“GLENCORE, RAMAPHOSA ACQUIRE 70% STAKE OF OPTIMUM COAL”dated June 25, 2012 at https://venturesafrica.com/features/nigeria-real-estate-asset-pricing/

A unit of global commodity trader Glencore and South African businessman Cyril Ramaphosa have finalised the purchase of just over 70 percent of Optimum Coal, Reuters has reported.

Optimim Coal, South Africa’s sixth-biggest coal miner, confirmed this on Monday as the consortium including a Glencore subsidiary, Piruto BV, and Ramaphosa’s Lexshell 849, who have been in talks with the coal company since last year, finally agreed with the Optimum to acquire controlling stakes in the company.

According to an Optimum statement: “The Consortium has now acquired, directly and indirectly, 71.10 percent of the issued ordinary share capital of Optimum”

Shareholders holding some 7.79 million of Optimum shares have accepted the mandatory offer of R38 () per share which closed on Friday. Part of the company is owned by its employees and the local communities via two trusts.

The consortium had been in talks with Optimum due to to the coal producer’s reserves and access to the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT).

According to Reuters, all is set for Optimum to be delisted from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange on July 6.

Glencore, the world’s largest commodities trading company, has production facilities around the world that supply metals, minerals, crude oil, oil products, coal, natural gas and agricultural products clients in the manufacturing sector.

In March this year, Optimum Coal appointed Glencore’s partner and local politician-turn-businessman Cyril Ramaphosa as chairperson and non-executive director of the company, perhaps paving way for the eve

“Molefe speaks on Eskom pension payout”- https://youtu.be/YeoI7xjz05w

“State Capture: Brian Molefe ‘left Eskom because of Madonsela’s report’” - https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/state-capture-brian-molefe-left-eskom-because-of-madonselas-report/. Below are a few excerpts.

Former public protector Thuli Madonsela’s state of capture report implicated Brian Molefe, with cellphone records placing him at the Gupta compound

Molefe is one of several people whom, along with former president Jacob Zuma, are accused of enabling the looting of state funds and resources by the Guptas. The family formerly owned the Optimum mine which supplied coal to Eskom – securing billions of rands in contracts.

Madonsela released her report in October 2016. The report included cellphone evidence which not only revealed that Molefe had made dozens of phone calls to Ajay Gupta – the oldest Gupta brother, but also placed him at the family’s home in Saxonwold, Johannesburg – at least 19 times between August 2015 and March 2016.

He said he then took the job and left Transnet, where they had just renewed his five-year contract. Another bone of contention surrounding Molefe is his pension payout. After his unforgettable resignation at the utility in December 2016, Molefe scored around R30 million in pension benefits – despite having only been there a year and a half.

He told the commission that he had been offered a permanent post at the utility. However Lynne Brown then back tracked and offered him a five-year contract, to which Molefe objected. The board then came up with a solution – Molefe, then 49 would serve until he is 54, but receive nine more years’ worth of retirement benefits.

“[Swedish Prime Minister] Olof Palme Assassination: The SA connection”- dated 2020-06-13 at https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/editorpicks/olaf-palme-assassination-the-sa-connection/ar-BB15jr7m. Below are a few excerpts but worth reading in full.

The Swedish police and prosecution authorities on Tuesday closed their 34-year investigation into the 1986 assassination of Prime Minister Olof Palme. In the process, they named one prime suspect and noted that ‘there was not enough evidence’ of a South African connection to the killing. However, this is unlikely to put an end to the speculation about a South African connection since there are so many unanswered questions and so many loose ends.

South Africa lies at the centre of many unanswered questions following the decision announced this week by the Swedish authorities to close the 34-year investigation into the assassination of Olof Palme. The Swedish premier was gunned down in the street outside a cinema on 28 February 1986, a week after granting the ANC an effective diplomatic presence in Sweden.

Palme and his “kitchen cabinet” of close friends, including Lars Gunner Eriksson of the International University Exchange Fund (IUEF) in Switzerland were deeply involved in trying to establish, with ANC president OR Tambo, a “third way” anti-apartheid force. This would have made it impossible for the Pretoria government and its Western allies to portray the ANC as being dominated by the SA Communist Party and, therefore, Moscow.

As such, Palme was a particular target for Pretoria. At that time, the apartheid state had also set up a number of clandestine “dirty tricks” units including Operation Longreach, headed by Craig Michael Williamson. This was the unit responsible for the letter bomb murders of Ruth First in Mozambique in 1982 and of Jeanette Curtis and her six-year-old daughter, Katryn, in 1984.

But there were no direct leads to the Palme killing until the Truth and Reconciliation Commission began its work in 1996. It was then that Eugene de Kock, the last commander of the notorious Vlakplaas death squad, provided much of the evidence that exposed what the country got to know about the level of callous brutality carried out on behalf of the apartheid state.

De Kock said he had no direct knowledge of the Palme murder, but noted that former security police “analyst” and gun runner, Philip Powell, had told him that two of Williamson’s close associates, Jonty and Cindy Leontsinis, knew who had carried out the Palme assassination. Williamson subsequently denied all knowledge of involvement.

Jonty Leontsinis, a Johannesburg horticulturist who, with his wife, Cindy, operated within security police and Military Intelligence fronts linked to Williamson, were never investigated or interviewed by the TRC. Powell disappeared after flying to England, allegedly to study for a postgraduate degree.

What the police discovered were several identity documents, all genuine, but with photographs that could almost have been of different people, with or without beards, moustaches or being clean-shaven and with different hairstyles. Two were in the name of Nigel Barnett. But there was also one for Nicho Esslin. And, as it later turned out, Henry William Otto also featured as did, of course, Henry William Bacon.

It soon transpired that the spy had first been posted to Maputo by South African Military Intelligence in 1984, had travelled widely, and had continued to be paid by the post-apartheid government’s security services, a fact that still needs to be explained. Because it also emerged that Nigel Barnett was an acknowledged master among that small band of human flotsam that constitute his peers. He was known as “Mr 200 per cent”, one of that rare group who excel as both agents — spies — and operatives or “men of action” or, not to put too fine a point on it, killers.

As Barnett’s background became known, he was catapulted into the front ranks of suspects in the Palme investigation. He was born Leon van der Westhuizen, in May 1949, put up for adoption and subsequently adopted by Henry Bacon and his Swedish-born wife Amanda, who named him Henry William Bacon. His adoptive mother also taught him Swedish, a language he maintained after going into the South African army and then the navy as a diver before heading north to join the British SA Police in the “Rhodesian bush war”.

They may hope that this will put paid to the case, but it is a forlorn hope. There are even more loose ends than exist in the case of the assassination of John F Kennedy. And, like the 134 apparent publicity seekers who confessed over the years to having shot Palme, conspiracy theorists galore will continue to have a field day while some dogged investigators, more than three decades down the line, will continue to question and to search for answers they may never find.

“Former apartheid-era spy testifies at Dipale inquest”- https://youtu.be/vd97RHnuweo [Embedded]. Posted Mar 3, 2021

“Former apartheid-era spy Joe Mamasela confessed to involvement in the deaths of at least 35 people during his time as a Vlakplaas assassin. Vlakplaas was exposed by Capt Dirk Coetzee in 1989 as police hit squad headquarters. Mamasela says he has been open and honest about his complicity during apartheid. He's testifying virtually in the inquiry into the death in detention of anti-apartheid activist, Ernest Dipale. Dipale was reported dead in the early hours of the 8th of August 1982. The security branch police claimed he had committed suicide but his family believes he was murdered.”

Interesting that this is currently being heard in court.

Keep in mind.

“Prime Evil: why South Africa is releasing Eugene De Kock” dated January 30, 2015, at https://theconversation.com/prime-evil-why-south-africa-is-releasing-eugene-de-kock-37007. Below are a few excerpts.

The release of Eugene de Kock, former commander of the notorious Vlakplaas counterinsurgency unit responsible for numerous clandestine assassinations in apartheid South Africa, raises a number of critical issues with respect to justice in societies in transition.

De Kock was nicknamed “Prime Evil” and was sentenced to two life sentences plus 212 years in prison in 1996. However, after 20 years, he is being released “in the interests of nation-building”. The 66-year-old remains such a controversial figure that the place and time of his release will remain secret. [Don’t forget “State Capture Inquiry | Ms K testifies about SSA R1 billion expenditure and ‘paying paroled apartheid state assassin’ Eugene de Kock” at https://youtu.be/nwU7ZnOxxrY and https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2021-01-28-anc-government-paid-apartheid-assassin-eugene-de-kock-r40000-salary-after-his-parole-inquiry-hears/]

Raising issues of culpability and accountability in institutional murder is always a difficult subject in transitional justice arrangements and has been very high profile since the trial of Adolf Eichmann and his defence of following orders. Echoes of that can be heard in the words of one of the widows of someone murdered by De Kock when she claimed that he was effectively a scapegoat for those who gave him the orders.

De Kock himself was the police colonel in command of a notorious unit known as Vlakplaas during the apartheid era. Vlakplaas itself is a farm west of Pretoria that was the headquarters of the South African Police counterinsurgency unit, known as C10 and then later C1. Vlakplaas and was established and then run by firstly Dirk Coetzee and then De Kock himself.

This has led to a feeling that De Kock was being used as a scapegoat for those who gave the orders to kill and who did not face trial. That feeling was reinforced by a 2007 radio interview in which he accused South Africa’s last white ruler FW de Klerk of having hands “soaked in blood” for ordering specific killings. De Klerk denied the allegations.

“Naturalisation visas among permits probed by Home Affairs”- https://youtu.be/3rj6OqThGxM

“A probe into illegal permits and visas will kick off soon with Home Affairs honing in on high profile individuals.”

“Revitalised Peace Agreement in South Sudan at risk of collapse”- https://youtu.be/Wrf3y-b1onw

“The Revitalized Peace Agreement in South Sudan is at risk of collapse as the international community was urged to step up pressure on national leaders amid a political environment the United Nations describes as fragile. Just more than a year since the establishment of a transitional government led by President Sala Kiir Mayardit and long-time rival Riek Machar, growing unease that what little progress had been achieved may fall apart. NGOs also pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic that has further devastated a country already on its knees.”

“Amnesty International report on Mozambique killings: Brian Castner”- https://youtu.be/FDofRBLGNng. A good discussion.

“A report released by Amnesty International says Hundreds of civilians in Mozambique are victims of indiscriminate killings by rebels, government security forces, and a private militia. The escalating conflict in Cabo Delgado province has setback regional integration and lasting peace in the region. The human rights group's analysis found that up to 2 600 people have been killed and more than half a million have been displaced in the gas-rich province of Cabo Delgado since 2017. Brian Castner, Senior Crisis Advisor for Arms and Military Operations at Amnesty International told SABC News Filipe Nyusi's government must investigate the war crimes and stop targeting civilians.”

[Amnesty International article can be read at https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/03/mozambique-civilians-killed-as-war-crimes-committed-by-armed-group-government-forces-and-private-military-contractors-new-report/ and the report can be found at https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr41/3545/2021/en/]

>>13086237

“Saldahna cocaine bust: Suspects in court after massive seizure” – From Bulgaria and Myanmar- https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/saldahna-cocaine-bust-latest-suspects-in-court-bulgaria-myanmar-thursday-4-march/. Below are a few excerpts.

Ten Bulgarian and Myanmarese nationals who were arrested earlier this week following a dramatic late night operation in which a fishing boat carrying over R500 million worth of cocaine was raided appeared in court on Thursday and were formally charged with dealing in drugs, and possession of drugs as an alternative charge.

The case was postponed until 12 March after the defence raised concerns about the ability of the court to afford the men a fair trial without registered translators present, as they don’t speak English.

The following men entered the stand on Thursday, with the first four men listed hailing from Bulgaria and the remaining six from Myanmar.

Asen Georgiev Ivanov (51)

Mario Vasev (47)

Atanas Mihayhou Bikov (53)

Borsilav Atanasov (45)

Khin Aung (55)

Kyaw Kyaw Han (42)

Thaw Tin Win (52)

Nyein Win (28)

Zin Kyaw (27)

Kyaw Thu Win (36)

The intelligence-driven operation that took place on Monday saw various tactical forces descending on the vessel where 973 blocks of compressed cocaine (estimated at R583 million) were found in three compartments of the vessel.

According to investigating officers who spoke to The South African, one of the Bulgarian men is the owner of the vessel that was raided, and one of his compatriots is listed as civil engineer. They added that the cocaine that was seized is currently being tested at a laboratory to determine it’s purity and origin. The drugs are believed to have come from South America.

The Bulgarian nationals listed their address as the Island Club hotel in Milnerton, Cape Town, while the Myanmarese men listed a township in their native country.

>>13104331

I tend to agree with you… There is no honour among criminals.

“EFF parties ‘in other countries’ send their birthday wishes to Julius Malema”- https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/africa/where-are-eff-other-parties-in-africa-what-countries-julius-malema-birthday/.

Julius Malema officially turned 40 on Wednesday, and the birthday messages came flooding in throughout the day. Indeed, anyone following the EFF’s official Twitter feed was treated to a propaganda barrage that could make a North Korean blush. Adulation has been heaped upon the firebrand politician – not least from the Red Berets who are based abroad.

Depending on your political stance, the idea of ‘multiple EFF parties’ is either a delight or a terror. Undeniably, however, it is a genuine reality. At least six other nations have established political parties under the same ideological values presented by Julius Malema – and some of their MPs have even been elected to Parliaments outside of South Africa.

In a gushing statement published earlier in the day, our domestic branch of the EFF claimed that reaching 40 was an achievement in itself, given that a lot of ‘revolutionary leaders’ are assassinated before reaching this landmark age. High praise indeed, which is making us think twice about merely ‘phoning it in’ the next time we have to write a birthday card…

NAMIBIA

– The Nambian branch of the EFF, by the way, has two MPs in Parliament – but they still ‘Hail to the (Commander In) Chief’

GHANA

– “May the sweetness of your birthday cake stay with you forever” – get that quote on Tumblr where it belongs…

MALAWI

– The message from Malawi was one of ‘good health and heavenly protection’ for Mr. Malema.

LIBERIA

– Emmanuel Gonquoi, the leader of the Liberian EFF party, implored Juju to carry on ‘liberating’ Africa

BOTSWANA AND ZIMBABWE

– The two grassroots movements of the EFF in our neighbouring countries have also passed on their best wishes.

Patrice Motsepe’s wealth grew by 58% during COVID while the other SA elites were less significant

“Global rich list 2021: This SA billionaire has seen his wealth skyrocket…” - https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/south-africa-dollar-billionaires-oppenheimer-rupert-patrice-motsepe/.

Five South African 'dollar billionaires' feature on the Hurun Rich List - but only one of them has risen up the index since 2020.

Various ‘rich lists’ have been released since the start of the year, and they rarely come to a common consensus. In fact, the only thing we can determine from the impact of the pandemic is that the financial elites became comprehensively richer since COVID-19 gripped the world. However, there’s another recurring theme involving SA billionaire Patrice Motsepe.

The mining magnate [Patrice Motsepe] has enjoyed a meteoric rise over the past 12 months: Usually contending with Koos Bekker for the title of ‘third richest person in South Africa’ – because Nicky Oppenheimer and Johann Rupert have net-worths that are bordering on the obscene – the 59-year-old has put clear daylight between himself and the Naspers supremo.

You have to go some way before you come across a billionaire who resides in South Africa, though. Nicky Oppenheimer is our first entrant on the list, coming in at #346. His wealth has crept up by 2.6% from this time year. Johann Rupert saw his fortune grow by an impressive 10.3%, and he now has an estimated net worth of $6.4 billion.

Koos Bekker and Capitec boss Michiel le Roux have also consolidated their cash reserves – but it’s Patrice Motsepe who is turning heads on the Global Rich List. Since March 2020, he has seen his wealth skyrocket by almost 58%. The huge increase has moved his total bank balance from $1.9 billion to $3 billion in the past 12 months alone.

>>13108350

“African Rainbow Minerals doubles its 2020 interim dividend payout” – [Patrice Motsepe, Chairman]- https://www.iol.co.za/business-report/companies/african-rainbow-minerals-doubles-its-2020-interim-dividend-payout-b765a8b9-0280-4fc0-9845-b8661a9e26c8. Below are a few excerpts.

African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), chaired by billionaire Patrice Motsepe, posted record headline earnings during the six months ended December 2020 and doubled its interim dividend payout compared with a year earlier as commodity prices boosted its fortunes.

The group reported a 134 percent jump in headline earnings to a record R5.039 billion, or R25.87 a share, compared to R2.155bn, or R11.14 a share as iron ore prices reached record highs coupled with higher platinum metal group (PGM) dollar prices and manganese ore sales volumes.

ARM declared a R10 a share interim dividend representing a R2.24bn payout during the half year ended December compared to R5 a year ago.

Headline earnings from ferrous was 60 percent higher at R2.95bn from R1.84bn a year earlier driven by a 99 percent increase in headline earnings in the iron ore division.

Attributable headline earnings from the platinum business increased by a whopping 200 percent to R2.021bn from R489 million as the Two Rivers and Modikwa mines benefited from a 35 percent and 162 percent increase in average realised dollar palladium and rhodium prices, respectively.

Schmidt said the group would grow organically to produce an additional 300 000 ounces PGMs by 2024 after its board approved the R5.7bn expansion of the Two Rivers Mine in Limpopo and the Modikwa mine was also ramping up production.

The construction of the Two Rivers Merensky Project is expected in July, with plant commissioning expected in the second quarter 2023.

Schmidt said the project would ensure the Two Rivers mine was positioned in the bottom half of the industry cash cost curve.

“I am proud of what we are going to achieve. I have no doubt we will deliver on time and in budget,” said Schmidt.

Anchor Capital investment analyst Seleho Tsatsi said ARM’s portfolio of commodities had been well-positioned to benefit from the rally that “we’ve seen in commodity prices over the past year or so”.

“Iron ore and PGMs, in particular, have really rallied strongly and producers of those commodities are earning cyclically high margins. Going forward, it’s likely that iron ore and PGMs will continue to drive earnings for ARM and if commodity prices remain somewhere near spot, you could see continued earnings growth in the short-term,” Tsatsi said.

>>13108350 - I will post should I find more info.

Patrice Motsepe’s Bio

https://www.miningafrica.net/people/patrice-motsepe/ dated August 14, 2017

Patrice Tlhopane Motsepe is the founder and executive chairman of a mineral company called African Rainbow Minerals. His personal fortune makes him one of South Africa’s wealthiest billionaires, and Africa’s first black billionaire. He also holds the position of non-executive chairman at Harmony Gold and deputy chairman of financial service group, Sanlam. In 2016, he launched a private equity firm, African Rainbow Capital, a subsidiary of Ubuntu-Botho Investments. In 2013, Motsepe was the first African to sign the Giving Pledge; he promised to give at least half his fortune to charity.

Education

Starting from humble beginnings, Motsepe grew up working in his father’s informal shop close to a mine. This exposed him to the mining industry, and also gave him his first taste of entrepreneurship. He studied at the University of Swaziland, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree before completing his law degree at the University of the Witwatersrand. He started his career working for Bowman Gilfillan, a prestigious law firm where he specialized in mining and business law. Motsepe was the first black partner in the firm.

Career

Taking advantage of opportunities made available by the political changes in South Africa affected by Nelson Mandela, Motsepe launched Future Mining, a company that provided mine scut work services on a contract basis to established mining companies. In 1997, he acquired several smaller gold mines from AngloGold for just under $8 million. This and several subsequent purchases of operating mines laid the foundation for the creation of Africa Rainbow Minerals. In 2002, Africa Rainbow Minerals was listed on the JSE and shortly afterward, merged with Harmony Gold Mining. The new company was changed to ARMgold.

Motsepe is the founder of several wholly owned subsidiaries including African Rainbow Minerals Platinum, ARM Consortium Limited, which was subsequently co-owned with Anglo American Platinum Corp Ltd. In 2005 Motsepe was named Chairman of Teal Exploration and Mining. As the founder of Ubuntu-Botho Investments, Motsepe partnered with financial services and insurance company Sanlam to create a private equity firm that focused on wholly African investments.

Managerial Achievements

While many have pointed to the introduction of new Black Economic Empowerment laws introduced to South Africa, post-apartheid, as being one of the key factors in Motsepe’s success, he has achieved his success in the mining and latterly investment markets due to his entrepreneurial skills more than anything. In his earliest ventures, he introduced a system of remuneration for his mine employees that included a lower base salary combined with profit sharing bonuses that helped drive productivity and profits for Future Mining and Africa Rainbow Minerals. He was the chairman of the Black Business Council in South Africa and is one of the founders of Business Unity SA (BUSA), an advocacy and lobby group. He has received several awards for entrepreneurship and is on the Forbes List of Billionaires.

Personal Life

Motsepe is married and has three children. His wife Dr. Precious Moloi is currently co-chair of The Motsepe foundation, a foundation dedicated to providing grants in education, development forums and women in business.

EFF’s agenda

>>13104505 - This clarifies a few things.

“Julius Malema intensifies call for the collapsing of borders in Africa” - https://youtu.be/Afsy5mNwQD8

It makes sense why “South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party leader Julius Malema wants Africans to have a common language [Swahili]” which is not spoken in South Africa. “It is among the official languages in the African Union.” (https://nairobinews.nation.co.ke/news/hakuna-matata-malema-wants-africans-speak-swahili)

Take note, the only African language on the Georgia Guidestones is Swahili. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_Guidestones)

“Julius Malema Demands Borders to be Open to all Africans.” at https://www.sarichandfamous.com/2021/01/16/julius-malema-demands-borders-to-be-open-to-all-africans/ states, “Malema mentioned that Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana and Zimbabwe have rights to enter South Africa because everyone is African.”

They want to become the political party for the African continent.

>>13104505 - Take note:

“When Nelson Mandela met Margaret Thatcher” described by Robin Renwick - https://youtu.be/ODmmATOjFZ8

“Who Is Lord Robin Renwick Julius Malema’s Handler From London?”dated 13 April 2016 at http://www.radiofreesouthafrica.com/lord-robin-renwick-julius-malemas-handler-london/. Below are a few excerpts however it is worth reading in full.

During October 2015, the top leadership of the ostensible“Marxist-Leninist” parliamentary party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) led by its “Commander in Chief” Julius Malema took a tour to London where they met amongst others, ‘Lord’ Robin Renwick. The meeting with Renwick and other representatives of imperialism happened under the secret rule called the “Chatham House Rule”.

Malema’s new friend – is a nasty piece of work. He is a chief imperialist negotiator who was deployed to Southern Africa by the Queen under the Margaret Thatcher administration. He has successfully negotiated neo colonial settlements consecutively in Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa. In November 1978 he was deployed to Zimbabwe, where he was appointed head of the Rhodesia Department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He later served as Political Adviser to the Governor of ‘Rhodesia’. He had clear instructions to find a suitable black successor government that was: amicable to working with the British; willing to keep the economy in the hands of White Monopoly Capital, and; willing to accept the neo-colonial constitution drafted by the British that served to protect White minority rights.

The British were reluctantly forced to hand over power to Robert Mugabe via agreements made at Lancaster. Robin Renwick was closely involved in the process of what he calls‘decolonising’ Zimbabwe. He convinced Robert Mugabwe who was adamant on arm struggle for liberation to delay the real liberation of the Zimbabwean people by another 20 years by leaving the economy and the land in the hands of the British. The Queen awarded Renwick with the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1980 for his service to the crown. Traditionally these awards go to those who “hold high and confidential offices within Her Majesty’s colonial possessions, and in reward for services rendered to the Crown in relation to the foreign affairs of the Empire”.

In 1987 Robin Renwick was deployed to South Africa by the Queen under similar instructions. South Africa had declared a state of emergency and like Zimbabwe (seven years earlier) was costing European investors billions of rands. Renwicks orders was to find a suitable successor to President PW Botha, for the purpose of freeing Nelson Mandela who the British had identified as the black leader that they could best work with, and; drafting a new neo-colonial constitution that protected the rights of the white minority who owned the SA economy.

Renwick serves in the House of Lords in the British Parliament and has business links to the Rothchilds, the Ruperts and some of the biggest multinational companies in the world including mining companies in Asia, Europe, Australia and Africa that mine gold, diamonds, copper, coal, natural gas, petroleum etc. In Africa he has held director positions in SAB Miller the second largest brewery in the world, Harmony Gold the third largest gold mining company in SA, Gem Diamonds a company linked to forceful removal of Bushmen peoples in Botswana. I must be pointed out that Gem Diamonds also has mines in the following African countries: Angola, Botswana, Central African Republic, DRC and Lesotho.

Malema is attending private meetings in the Chamber of Commerce under the ‘Chantam House Rule’. This means that it’s a secret, that one bind oneself to, not to reveal who one is meeting with. This includes meetings with affiliates of the principal party(s). White Power handlers like Renwick are preparing Julius Malema, like they prepared Nelson Mandela in the 1990’s, to carry out the mandate of the Queen.

In the press conference held after the London tour, the EFF had promised to make the footage of the secret meeting available. In fact the media was asked by the EFF to get directly in touch with the award winning film maker Rehad Desai to get the footage. All attempts to get the footage from Desai has been totally unsuccessful.