Africa Intel
🇿🇦 South African parliament speaker's home raided in corruption probe South African investigators raided the home of National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula on Tuesday as part of a corruption inquiry against her, the parliament said. The operation…
🇿🇦 South African parliament speaker hands herself in to police
The speaker of South Africa's parliament has turned herself in to the police amid an ongoing corruption investigation against her, according to local media.
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula handed herself over to the Pretoria Central Police on Friday morning and is expected to appear in court later in the day, local reports say.
She is accused of soliciting bribes in return for awarding contracts when she served as defence minister.
On Thursday, she announced that she was taking special leave from her role due to the "seriousness of the allegations," a statement shared by parliament said.
#SouthAfrica
@africaintel
The speaker of South Africa's parliament has turned herself in to the police amid an ongoing corruption investigation against her, according to local media.
Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula handed herself over to the Pretoria Central Police on Friday morning and is expected to appear in court later in the day, local reports say.
She is accused of soliciting bribes in return for awarding contracts when she served as defence minister.
On Thursday, she announced that she was taking special leave from her role due to the "seriousness of the allegations," a statement shared by parliament said.
#SouthAfrica
@africaintel
🇿🇦 Prosecutors allege South Africa's Parliament speaker took $135,000 and a wig in bribes
South African prosecutors said Monday they intend to charge the Parliament speaker with corruption, alleging she took $135,000 and a wig in bribes over three years while she was defence minister.
Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has not been arrested or charged. The prosecutors spoke at a court hearing over her claims that authorities hadn't properly informed her of allegations or followed the correct procedure.
In court papers submitted for the hearing, prosecutors say Mapisa-Nqakula received 11 payments totalling $135,000 between December 2016 and July 2019. She sought another bribe of $105,000 but that wasn't paid, prosecutors said.
On one occasion in February 2019, Mapisa-Nqakula received more than $15,000 and a wig at a meeting at the country's main international airport, the papers say.
The person who allegedly paid the bribes was not named.
#SouthAfrica
@africaintel
South African prosecutors said Monday they intend to charge the Parliament speaker with corruption, alleging she took $135,000 and a wig in bribes over three years while she was defence minister.
Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has not been arrested or charged. The prosecutors spoke at a court hearing over her claims that authorities hadn't properly informed her of allegations or followed the correct procedure.
In court papers submitted for the hearing, prosecutors say Mapisa-Nqakula received 11 payments totalling $135,000 between December 2016 and July 2019. She sought another bribe of $105,000 but that wasn't paid, prosecutors said.
On one occasion in February 2019, Mapisa-Nqakula received more than $15,000 and a wig at a meeting at the country's main international airport, the papers say.
The person who allegedly paid the bribes was not named.
#SouthAfrica
@africaintel
🇿🇦 South Africa's main opposition party not ruling out deal with ANC
South Africa's second most popular party the Democratic Alliance (DA) would not rule out a deal with the ruling African National Congress should the ANC fail to get the majority it needs to retain power in May elections, its leader said.
Pollsters expect the ANC to lose its legislative majority on May 29.
If that happens, President Cyril Ramaphosa or a successor for the top job would be unable to stay on without a coalition, since South Africa's parliament elects the president.
"It would depend which ANC you're dealing with and what their programme of action is," DA leader John Steenhuisen said, declining to disclose whether any talks had already taken place.
"I'm not ruling out anything, depending on what the election results are."
#SouthAfrica
@africaintel
South Africa's second most popular party the Democratic Alliance (DA) would not rule out a deal with the ruling African National Congress should the ANC fail to get the majority it needs to retain power in May elections, its leader said.
Pollsters expect the ANC to lose its legislative majority on May 29.
If that happens, President Cyril Ramaphosa or a successor for the top job would be unable to stay on without a coalition, since South Africa's parliament elects the president.
"It would depend which ANC you're dealing with and what their programme of action is," DA leader John Steenhuisen said, declining to disclose whether any talks had already taken place.
"I'm not ruling out anything, depending on what the election results are."
#SouthAfrica
@africaintel
🇿🇦🇵🇸🇮🇱🇺🇳 South Africa "pleased" with UN Gaza ceasefire vote
South Africa has welcomed the adoption of the UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
In a vote on Monday, the council urged a ceasefire for the rest of the month of Ramadan - which ends in two weeks.
South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor in a statement said her country was "pleased" with the resolution but called for a "lasting sustainable ceasefire".
"It is now the responsibility of the United Nations Security Council to ensure that there is compliance with the resolution, which is binding on the parties," Pandor added.
The resolution, which also called for the release of all hostages, followed several failed attempts at similar measures since the 7 October attacks.
#SouthAfrica #Palestine #Israel #UN
@africaintel
South Africa has welcomed the adoption of the UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
In a vote on Monday, the council urged a ceasefire for the rest of the month of Ramadan - which ends in two weeks.
South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor in a statement said her country was "pleased" with the resolution but called for a "lasting sustainable ceasefire".
"It is now the responsibility of the United Nations Security Council to ensure that there is compliance with the resolution, which is binding on the parties," Pandor added.
The resolution, which also called for the release of all hostages, followed several failed attempts at similar measures since the 7 October attacks.
#SouthAfrica #Palestine #Israel #UN
@africaintel
🇿🇦🇩🇪 South Africa orders German firm SAP to pay $26m earned 'corruptly'
South Africa's special tribunal has ordered German multinational company SAP to pay back 500m rand ($26m) that the firm reportedly earned through corrupt contracts.
The country's anti-corruption body says that the contracts - signed between SAP and public power company Eskom - did not comply with public finance management laws, resulting in "fruitless and wasteful expenditures" for Eskom.
The two contracts were entered between 2013 and 2016 and were valued at $58m.
The payment order follows a settlement agreement between SAP and the anti-corruption agency Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
The Special Tribunal last week upheld the settlement and termed the contracts "constitutionally invalid".
SIU said on Monday that the payment was part of efforts "to recover financial losses suffered by state institutions due to negligence or corruption".
#SouthAfrica #Germany
@africaintel
South Africa's special tribunal has ordered German multinational company SAP to pay back 500m rand ($26m) that the firm reportedly earned through corrupt contracts.
The country's anti-corruption body says that the contracts - signed between SAP and public power company Eskom - did not comply with public finance management laws, resulting in "fruitless and wasteful expenditures" for Eskom.
The two contracts were entered between 2013 and 2016 and were valued at $58m.
The payment order follows a settlement agreement between SAP and the anti-corruption agency Special Investigating Unit (SIU).
The Special Tribunal last week upheld the settlement and termed the contracts "constitutionally invalid".
SIU said on Monday that the payment was part of efforts "to recover financial losses suffered by state institutions due to negligence or corruption".
#SouthAfrica #Germany
@africaintel
🇮🇪🇿🇦🇮🇱🇵🇸 Ireland to intervene in South Africa genocide case against Israel
Ireland said on Wednesday it would intervene in South Africa's genocide case against Israel.
Announcing the move, Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said that while it was for the World Court to decide whether genocide is being committed, he wanted to be clear that Hamas' October 7 attack and what is happening in Gaza now "represents the blatant violation of international humanitarian law on a mass scale."
"The taking of hostages. The purposeful withholding of humanitarian assistance to civilians. The targeting of civilians and of civilian infrastructure. The use of civilian objects for military purposes. The collective punishment of an entire population," Martin said.
"The list goes on. It has to stop."
Martin did not say what form the intervention would take or outline any argument Ireland plans to advance, but added that the step was decided following legal and policy analysis and consultation with several partners including South Africa.
#Ireland #SouthAfrica #Israel #Palestine
@africaintel
Ireland said on Wednesday it would intervene in South Africa's genocide case against Israel.
Announcing the move, Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said that while it was for the World Court to decide whether genocide is being committed, he wanted to be clear that Hamas' October 7 attack and what is happening in Gaza now "represents the blatant violation of international humanitarian law on a mass scale."
"The taking of hostages. The purposeful withholding of humanitarian assistance to civilians. The targeting of civilians and of civilian infrastructure. The use of civilian objects for military purposes. The collective punishment of an entire population," Martin said.
"The list goes on. It has to stop."
Martin did not say what form the intervention would take or outline any argument Ireland plans to advance, but added that the step was decided following legal and policy analysis and consultation with several partners including South Africa.
#Ireland #SouthAfrica #Israel #Palestine
@africaintel
🇿🇦 South Africa bus crash kills 45 Easter pilgrims, Transport Ministry says
A bus crash in South Africa's northern province of Limpopo resulted in 45 deaths and one serious injury, South Africa's Department of Transport said.
The driver lost control and collided with barriers on a bridge near Mamatlakala, causing the bus to go over the bridge and hit the ground, catching fire, according to a statement by the transport department.
The bus was taking Easter pilgrims from Botswana, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, to Moria, a town in Limpopo, it added.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa sent his condolences to Botswana and pledged support to the country, his office said in a statement.
Only an 8-year-old survived the crash and was receiving medical attention at a nearby hospital, Limpopo's Department of Transport said.
#SouthAfrica
@africaintel
A bus crash in South Africa's northern province of Limpopo resulted in 45 deaths and one serious injury, South Africa's Department of Transport said.
The driver lost control and collided with barriers on a bridge near Mamatlakala, causing the bus to go over the bridge and hit the ground, catching fire, according to a statement by the transport department.
The bus was taking Easter pilgrims from Botswana, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, to Moria, a town in Limpopo, it added.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa sent his condolences to Botswana and pledged support to the country, his office said in a statement.
Only an 8-year-old survived the crash and was receiving medical attention at a nearby hospital, Limpopo's Department of Transport said.
#SouthAfrica
@africaintel
🇿🇦 South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma involved in car crash
Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been involved in a car crash but escaped unharmed.
According to local news reports, Police said a drunk driver hit his official state car on Thursday evening.
A member of his party, uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), claimed it was deliberate.
Zuma, suspended by the African National Congress (ANC), is campaigning for MK before May's election.
The crash occurred in his home province, KwaZulu-Natal, at 18:40 local time.
"No injuries were reported," said police. A 51-year-old man was arrested for drunk and reckless driving.
Musa Mkhize, MK's election head, suggested the crash was planned.
#SouthAfrica
@africaintel
Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been involved in a car crash but escaped unharmed.
According to local news reports, Police said a drunk driver hit his official state car on Thursday evening.
A member of his party, uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), claimed it was deliberate.
Zuma, suspended by the African National Congress (ANC), is campaigning for MK before May's election.
The crash occurred in his home province, KwaZulu-Natal, at 18:40 local time.
"No injuries were reported," said police. A 51-year-old man was arrested for drunk and reckless driving.
Musa Mkhize, MK's election head, suggested the crash was planned.
#SouthAfrica
@africaintel
🇿🇦 Jacob Zuma appeals against election ban
Former President Jacob Zuma has filed an appeal against South Africa's electoral commission, which last week barred him from standing in forthcoming elections.
The 81-year-old served as president from 2009 until 2018, when he had to step down because of corruption allegations.
He was convicted and received a 15-month prison sentence in 2021 for contempt of court - and the constitution says anyone who has had a prison sentence of longer than 12 months is not eligible to run for election.
The AFP news agency reports that court papers filed on his behalf argue that the electoral commission "had no valid reasons to violate the political rights of [former] President Zuma".
#SouthAfrica
@africaintel
Former President Jacob Zuma has filed an appeal against South Africa's electoral commission, which last week barred him from standing in forthcoming elections.
The 81-year-old served as president from 2009 until 2018, when he had to step down because of corruption allegations.
He was convicted and received a 15-month prison sentence in 2021 for contempt of court - and the constitution says anyone who has had a prison sentence of longer than 12 months is not eligible to run for election.
The AFP news agency reports that court papers filed on his behalf argue that the electoral commission "had no valid reasons to violate the political rights of [former] President Zuma".
#SouthAfrica
@africaintel
🇿🇦 South African policymakers in talks on lowering inflation target said central bank's governor
South African policymakers are in discussions on lowering the central bank's inflation target, its governor said on Wednesday, adding that a lower target would make the country more competitive and bring the central bank in line with peers.
Lesetja Kganyago told he personally preferred a decision that would lower the target from its current range of between 3% and 6% "before we get to 2025", but that teams from the South African Reserve Bank and National Treasury were still identifying the appropriate range and risks associated with it.
"Our teams are in conversation now," Kganyago said. "The teams will advise the governor and the (finance) minister and say ok this is the appropriate target and this is the appropriate timeline within which we have got to achieve the target."
#SouthAfrica
@africaintel
South African policymakers are in discussions on lowering the central bank's inflation target, its governor said on Wednesday, adding that a lower target would make the country more competitive and bring the central bank in line with peers.
Lesetja Kganyago told he personally preferred a decision that would lower the target from its current range of between 3% and 6% "before we get to 2025", but that teams from the South African Reserve Bank and National Treasury were still identifying the appropriate range and risks associated with it.
"Our teams are in conversation now," Kganyago said. "The teams will advise the governor and the (finance) minister and say ok this is the appropriate target and this is the appropriate timeline within which we have got to achieve the target."
#SouthAfrica
@africaintel