“Unknown gunmen kidnap around 30 students in Kaduna, Nigeria: Dr. Akinola Olojo”- https://youtu.be/zw6G_fq0ZEI
“Unknown gunmen have kidnapped around 30 students in the northwest state of Kaduna. This is the fourth mass school abduction in Nigeria since December. Senior researcher in the Lake Chad Basin program at the Institute for Security Studies in Dakar, Senegal, Dr. Akinola Olojo shares more.”
“Equatorial Guinea blast | Independent experts need to conduct probe into incident: Tutu Alicante”- https://youtu.be/uGJMKdbjom0
“Rights Groups have urged authorities to invite international experts to conduct an independent investigation into the Equatorial Guinea blast. They argue that casualty figures could be significantly higher, raising questions about why stockpiles of explosives were being stored in a populated area. US-based Human Rights Lawyer Tutu Alicante, a native of Equatorial Guinea joined us to share his views on the country and the blast.”
“Mamelodi gangs: Three gangs spread fear” - https://youtu.be/qibCseEnVgc
“A string of crimes in Mamelodi, Pretoria, including murder for hire, mob fees, extortion and building hijacking are reported to be linked to three gangs that rule through fear. Gangsterism has sprawled all over the township with gangs Boko Haram, Farasai and Al-Qaeda accused of being the mastermind behind it all. eNCA's senior reporter Aviwe Mtila visited Mamelodi.”
“’Boko Haram’, ’Farasai’, ’Al Qaeda’ gangs rule by fear in Mamelodi”- https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/news/boko-haram-farasai-al-qaeda-gangs-rule-by-fear-in-mamelodi-4f912df6-6f05-43b6-b92e-c2e8c4a36ebc. Below are a few excerpts.
“Farasai” according to the source deals with murder for hire mostly.
"We know of cases where they are sent to "deal" with people. Mostly aggrieved lovers pay a sum of R5 000 for the service."
“Al Qaeda” allegedly deals in drugs and is behind most car hijackings with “Boko Haram” being famous for extortion of all kinds and contract hijacking in Mamelodi and surrounding areas.
“‘A very productive engagement’: ANC Women’s League meets Zuma”- https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/a-very-productive-engagement-anc-womens-league-meets-zuma/
The ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) have become the latest visitors to former president Jacob Zuma’s Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal
Former president Jacob Zuma has met with members of the African National Congress Women’s League (ANCWL). A delegation, led by the league’s president Bathabile Dlamini visited Zuma at his Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)
“A very productive engagement. Judging from the posture, it appears like it was a tell-it-all from the Union Buildings of Inkandla,” Zuma’s daughter Duduzile said of the meeting on Twitter.
ANCWL members including Free State Premier Sisi Ntombela were also present.
The ANC Women’s League has said the meeting with former president Jacob Zuma was aimed at consolidating unity within the governing party. What exactly does that mean? Well, analysts have said that factionalism continues to plague the ANC, despite its constantly recycled “unity” narrative. Like most of Msholozi’s meetings, it isn’t entirely clear what was discussed. Something else to consider is whether they expressed their support for the former president in his stand-off with the State Capture Commission.
The ANCWL was joined by former SAA chairperson Dudu Myeni, who had also recently visited Zuma to present him with gifts, as a token of appreciation for him.
The ANCWL has been known to blindly support Zuma, most notably when he was accused of raping Fezekile Ntsukela Kuzwayo in 2005. He was later acquitted and Kuzwayo was forced to flee the country as she was under constant siege by the former president’s supporters. [He is known for his promiscuity, https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/south-africans-abroad/how-many-wives-does-jacob-zuma-have/]
The former president has undoubtedly been the host with the most recently, having welcomed several people into his Nkandla home, including leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Julius Malema, Police Minister Bheki Cele, members of the Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) and the Black First Land First (BLF) Movement, led by Andile Mngxitama.
Zuma faces possible jail time for his blatant refusal to appear before the commission. Chairperson Raymond Zondo filed an application with the Constitutional Court, seeking a jail term to be imposed on him. Zuma had defied an order by the Concourt, which compels him to appear and defend himself against countless allegations of corruption.
“Congo's election I Opposition leader Guy Brice Parfait Kolelas passes away a day after elections”- https://youtu.be/k5AcD2o87as
“The main opposition challenger in Congo's presidential election Guy Brice Parfiat Kolelas has died. The 61-year old was the main challenger in yesterday's election. Kolelas's election campaign director Christian Cyr Rodrigue Mayanda said the former Minister was being transported to a hospital in France when he passed away. Kolelas tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday. His spokesperson however declined to give the cause of death but said Kolelas died while he was being evacuated for medical treatment. In the run-up to election day, Kolelas addressed his supporters from his hospital bed, prompting them to rise up and vote for change. The 61-year old was the main challenger in yesterday's election. For more now we are joined by our correspondent Chris Ocamringa from Kinshasa DRC.”
“Congo opposition leader Kolelas' last video message before passing away | AFP”- https://youtu.be/xwYmP0XAW5o
“In a video released a day before he passed away, Republic of Congo presidential candidate Guy-Brice Parfait Kolelas addressed supporters from his hospital bed, calling on them to 'fight for change as I fight for my life'. He died on Sunday as he was being transferred to France for treatment shortly after polls closed in the presidential election in which he was the main challenger, making the video statement his last public message.”
Keep in mind.
“Congo voters lack hope of free and fair presidential election”- https://youtu.be/7TjmBE8vd_0
“Soldiers in the Republic of the Congo are voting ahead of Sunday's presidential election so they can help with security on voting day. President Denis Sassou Nguesso, who has been in power for most of the past 40 years, is seeking a fourth term. But as Al Jazeera's Malcolm Webb reports from the capital, Brazzaville, rights activists say there is no space for a democratic process, as killings, torture, and arrests remain a constant threat for government critics.”
“Political Analyst Professor Dirk Kotze unpacks Jacob Zuma's ConCourt defiance” - https://youtu.be/W18gXWp2jys
“Former President Jacob Zuma has accused Constitutional Court judges of violating his rights. In a strongly worded statement, released last night, Zuma says he is not afraid of going to jail Political Analyst Professor Dirk Kotze unpacks this.”
“Zuma’s scathing attack on the judiciary: ‘They are beyond reproach’”- https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/zuma-slams-judiciary-they-are-beyond-reproach/. Below are a few excerpts.
Former President Jacob Zuma has accused some of the Constitutional Court judges of being part of a political campaign against him – going as far as comparing it to the apartheid regime
In a lengthy statement, the former president said some of the judges in the Constitutional Court can no longer bring an open mind when presiding over cases which involve him.
“Ordinarily and if I had faith that a South African court would consider my submissions, I would present them to the Constitutional Court. However, my experience is that many South African judges, including those of the Constitutional Court, can no longer bring an open mind to cases involving me as they have done in awarding legal costs against me in a case I had not participated in”
Jacob Zuma maintains that the commission’s chairperson, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, should recuse himself as he is biased and has already decided that he’s guilty. At least 34 witnesses who’ve taken the stand at the commission have implicated the former president in grand looting – together with the controversial Gupta family and other government officials.
Zuma further laid into the country’s judicial system, accusing the court’s judges of being part of a political campaign against him – going as far as comparing it to the apartheid regime.
“More concerning for me as a person who fought for this democracy, is how the judiciary is now in the position where they are beyond reproach and the judges in this country are continuously taking extra powers to themselves to the detriment of legitimate democratic processes. I strongly agree with the public sentiment that is starting to see the emergence of a judicial dictatorship in SA. This, like the injustice of apartheid will not last as there are many like me who still stand for true freedom and democracy,” Zuma said.
Green Africa Group Company; Evergreen Agency (SA) – Part 1
With regard to Suez canal saga, I was curious to see if there may be an “Evergreen” connection to South Africa and then I discovered Green Africa Group. “The History of the Green Africa Group” at http://greenafrica.co.za/Pages/About-Us.asp states;
The history of the Green Africa Group dates back to 1992 when one of the shipping industry’s most admired and respected figures, Captain JJ Chen, established Green Africa Shipping at the request of the Evergreen Marine Corporation.
It was the first in a line of companies that he’d create to service South Africa’s burgeoning import and export market.
After the transition to democracy in 1994, the country became part of the international mainstream, and after years of isolation and sanctions, the economy took off. With it, grew the demand for world-class competencies and services in the areas of shipping and logistics.
“Evergreen Agency (SA)” - http://greenafrica.co.za/Pages/Evergreen-Agency.asp. The web page has an image of a container carrier with “EVERGREEN” on the side. It states the following
Introduction
Captain JJ Chen established the ship’s agency in 1992 to represent one of the world’s largest container carriers, the Evergreen Marine Corporation and its subsidiary, the Uniglory line. In 1998, the Evergreen Marine Corporation acquired one of the oldest shipping lines, Lloyd Triestino of Trieste, Italy, and in 2006 it was renamed Italia Marittima S.p.A. Previously serviced under Green Africa’s Lloydafrica Shipping banner, it formed part of the Green Africa Shipping mandate and function.
The ship’s agency managed all the Evergreen Marine Corporation and Italia Marittima vessels that called at the ports of Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth.
Since the Far East-South Africa trade route operated by the two lines is one of the most heavily tonnaged and globally competitive, calls are made weekly, with over 3 000 container ‘moves’ facilitated per vessel.
In line with the vision of Green Africa Shipping, which was “to become one of the preferred ship agencies in South Africa and globally”, the company acquired a 45% stake in Evergreen Agency (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd in April 2009. As a result of the transaction, all the services previously provided by Green Africa Shipping were transferred to the domain of Evergreen Agency (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd.
Today, Green Africa Shipping is a holding company and is known as Green Africa Holdings (PTY) Ltd.
Green Africa Group Companies; Green Africa Container Depot, Dragon Freight and GA Properties - Part 2
Green Africa Container Depot at http://greenafrica.co.za/Pages/GA-Container-Depot.asp states;
Green Africa Container Depot is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Green Africa Group.
With a proud legacy and an impressive track record, Green Africa Container Depot is a prominent and respected name in the container industry. Operating three container depots and two warehouses with a combined square meterage of 4 400sqm, the company's footprint covers Durban and Johannesburg. Annually, over 45 000 empty containers, more than 4 500 full containers and an estimated 20 000 freight tons of cargo pass through Green Africa Container Depot.
The vision of Captain JJ Chen, Green Africa Container Depot was founded in January 1996 as a direct result ofEvergreen Agency (SA) activity and the Evergreen Marine Corporation’s requirement for empty container storage, handling and repair services in South Africa. Like so many Green Africa Group companies, the function was previously outsourced, but was brought in-house to streamline efficiencies, improve synergies, save costs and broaden the commercial base.
Dragon Freight at http://www.dragonfreight.co.za/en/about.html states;
Dragon Freight, founded in 1994, is a group member of Green Africa Group who is a sister company in logistics services including: shipping agent, depot, clearing & forwarding, warehouse, transport, etc…
Dragon Freight is a company that specializes in Clearing, Forwarding, Imports, Exports, Transportation and Customs Clearing.
We are an accredited Clearing & Forwarding Agent with the South African Revenue Service (SARS), as well as being members of FIATA, GAC, and SAAFF.
We have dedicated staff that has extensive knowledge and experience in the industry.
You can find our offices based in Johannesburg (Head Office) and Durban.
GA Properties - http://greenafrica.co.za/Pages/GA-Properties.asp
Green Africa Group also owns office space, warehouse space and residential space.
Green Africa Group Companies; Lloydafrica and Ingwe Manor Guesthouse & Spa – Part 3
Lloydafrica - http://greenafrica.co.za/Pages/Lloydafrica.asp
Introduction
The Green Africa Group has a long and proud association with the Lloydafrica name. The entity has fulfilled various mandates since its inception, mainly in shipping. However, the merging of the Green Africa Group’s shipping agencies under the Evergreen Agency (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd umbrella in April 2009, created a unique gap for commercial opportunity in the burgeoning hospitality sector.
Services
The company owns the four-star Ingwe Manor Guest House and Spa in Margate, KwaZulu-Natal.
The property includes:
•10 luxury bedrooms, including a honeymoon suite
•Swimming pool
•On-site spa
•Conference facilities
•Fax/e-mail facilities
•Laundry service
•Secure parking
•Bar and guest lounge
Ingwe Manor Guesthouse & Spa - http://ingwemanor.com/
Awake to the sunrise over the Indian Ocean at Ingwe Manor on the lush South Coast of South Africa. This established guesthouse is well positioned on the South Coast for easy access to golf courses, fabulous beaches and numerous restaurants. Feel the stress evaporate as you enter light and airy bedrooms which are tastefully decorated in earthy tones.
A popular choice with Honeymooners or those wanting a romantic getaway is our luxurious and private Honeymoon Suite with the best sea views in the house.
Delicious breakfasts are served alfresco on the spacious terrace where you can plan your day. For those wanting complete relaxation our spa is a peaceful haven in to rejuvenate the mind body and soul.
Our warm hospitality, tropical surroundings and tranquil spa will ensure a memorable stay.