General News
Call For Public Holiday To Mark Marikana Tragedy
Activists and the families fighting for justice for the mineworkers killed in the Marikana massacre want August 16 to be declared a public holiday to commemorate the tragic shooting of the mineworkers in 2012.
On Monday, the country marked the ninth anniversary of the Marikana tragedy, when 34 miners died in a hail of police bullets.
During a memorial held by The Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu), the families of the deceased said they had not yet found closure.
Noor Nieftagodien, of the Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC), said it was important to have a public holiday to mark the tragedy, “not to braai but because we want to say that we will never forget what happened on August 16, 2012”.
“More than that, we also want the public holiday because we don’t ever want to forget 150 years of mining in South Africa, that had adverse consequences, and that has killed tens of thousands of black mineworkers across the southern African region.
’We want to remember, we don’t want to forget what mining has done to the people of the southern African region,” Nieftagodien said.
He said the families of the Marikana victims had not received a genuine apology, either from mining companies or from the governing party.
“Where is the justice when President Cyril Ramaphosa is still not prepared to go and meet the widows, to apologise, directly to them?
’’Where is the justice when we learn that in the last year, the Marikana mine now owned by Sibanye Stillwater has doubled their value?” he said.
Amcu said it had written two letters to the Presidency to speed up the process of compensation for the Marikana victims and their families, but said it has not received a reply.
The workers were demanding a wage of R12 500 when police shot and killed 34 of their colleagues at Wonderkop Koppie outside Rustenburg in North West.
General secretary of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu), Zwelinzima Vavi, who at the time of the massacre was the general secretary of Cosatu, said the Marikana massacre partially catalysed the birth of Saftu.
Vavi said the Marikana massacre was a “predetermined concomitant action, not the incompetence of police in crowd management”. He said the real role-players were the political officials at the time.
“Saftu reiterates that the following role-players should be charged for premeditating and ordering the cold murder of the mineworkers in Marikana. The then minister of Minerals, Susan Shabangu, who is also a former unionist, clearly collaborated with Ramaphosa in ensuring that the state killed those mine workers,” Vavi said..
“The minister of Police at the time, Nathi Mthethwa, cannot for a minute claim he did not know that the police had decided that August 16, 2012 was the ‘D-Day’.
“The president at the time, Jacob Zuma, who cannot make a claim that he did not know what his ministers were doing to aid the capitalist class refusing to pay workers a decent wage, is as guilty as Cyril Ramaphosa.”
Paying tribute at the Amcu memorial was Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who offered comforting words to the families of the deceased.
He said the families depended on the income of those who died, and needed healing and closure after nine years.
“There are adults among us, who were children at that time when their fathers were taken by bullets from guns that belonged to our state.
’’How do we console them? How do we explain to them why their fathers are gone? Because it should not have happened. It cannot be justified,” Buthelezi said.
Police in Cape Town have received praise for their recent efforts to combat the illegal trade of counterfeit goods, resulting in the recovery of over R5 million worth of fake merchandise.
The successful operation, which took place in Bellville on Thursday afternoon, saw a collaborative effort from various law enforcement agencies.
Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie, the provincial police spokesperson, stated that the operation involved members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Customs, Home Affairs, and brand protectors from various popular products. The coordinated effort targeted a shopping complex near the Bellville taxi rank, where previous similar operations had been conducted.
Despite finding most stores abandoned upon arrival, SAPS members pressed forward with the operation. Three Somalian men in their mid-thirties were apprehended, and counterfeit goods valued at approximately R5.1 million were seized during the operation.
One of the suspects was discovered in possession of a range of crucial documents inside a shop posing as a copy center.
These documents included passports, certificates such as birth and asylum papers, as well as vehicle licenses and a money counting machine.
The arrested individuals are facing charges related to the possession of counterfeit goods and fraud, with further charges pending as the investigation unfolds. They are scheduled to appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court.
Lieutenant General Thembisile Patekile, the Western Cape police commissioner, condemned the trade of counterfeit goods as economic sabotage and commended the team for their successful operation. He also issued a stern warning to building owners and landlords who turn a blind eye to illegal activities on their premises.
The seizure of over R5 million in counterfeit goods marks a significant victory in the ongoing battle against illicit trade, demonstrating law enforcement’s commitment to protecting consumers and the economy from fraudulent activities.
In a shocking incident that has left the community of Thohoyandou in Limpopo in disbelief, a 63-year-old man was brutally murdered in his own home.
The victim, whose identity is yet to be disclosed, was fatally shot while sleeping in his house in Tshitereke Thondoni.
The incident took place in the early hours of Thursday, as confirmed by Limpopo provincial police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba. According to Ledwaba, an unknown assailant intruded into the pensioner’s house, firing several shots at him before fleeing the scene. Tragically, the victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds all over his body.
A woman who was present in the same room with the pensioner miraculously survived the attack without any injuries.
She promptly contacted the police, who, upon arrival along with emergency personnel, declared the elderly man dead at the scene. The identity of the victim will be revealed in due course, according to Ledwaba.
Limpopo’s acting provincial commissioner of police, Major General Jan Scheepers, condemned the brutal attack, describing the victim as “defenceless.” He has instructed a dedicated team of investigators to track down the suspects and ensure they face the full force of the law.
Scheepers emphasized, “These ruthless killers who target the defenceless should be hunted and captured to face the full might of the law.”
Authorities are urging anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects to come forward. They can contact Crime Stop on 086-001-0111, their nearest police station, or use the My SAPS App. Police investigations into the incident are ongoing.
This tragic event adds to a series of distressing incidents in Limpopo, including cases of elderly individuals being targeted and victimized, highlighting the need for increased vigilance and community safety measures.
In response to South Africa’s recent filing of a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) related to Gaza, a group of nearly 50 South African lawyers, led by attorney Wikus Van Rensburg, is gearing up to file a separate lawsuit against the United States and the United Kingdom.
The basis for this legal action is the allegation that these Western countries are complicit in Israeli forces’ war crimes in Palestine.
Van Rensburg, who has been actively communicating with lawyers from the US and UK, expressed the intention to prosecute those deemed complicit in civilian courts.
In a recent interview with Turkish news publication Anadolu Agency, he emphasized the need to hold the United States accountable for its alleged crimes, stating that the legal process would address the complicity of the US and UK in Tel Aviv’s war crimes against Gaza.
The South African lawyer received significant support for his initiative, with many lawyers joining the cause, including Muslims who feel a moral obligation to assist.
Van Rensburg pointed to the lack of accountability for the US’s actions in Iraq and highlighted the perceived opportunity for a legal process to unfold regarding the situation in Palestine.
Drawing inspiration from Germany’s ongoing compensation for World War II genocide, Van Rensburg argued that the US must be held responsible for its actions and accept accountability.
The legal team is preparing by reaching out to law firms in the US and UK to collaborate on the case.
Van Rensburg sees the ICJ genocide case against Israel as a guide for their lawsuit against the US and UK. If the ICJ rules in favor of South Africa, he believes the US may face sanctions, even if it rejects the verdict, potentially strengthening a case against the Joe Biden administration.
In a symbolic move, the group of lawyers penned an open letter to the leaders of the US and UK governments, asserting that they cannot avoid responsibility. The legal battle, which started with the ICJ case against Israel, now expands to hold Western powers accountable for their alleged complicity in the ongoing conflict in Palestine.
Cuba remains red-listed on the state’s list of nations supporting terrorism, facing a blockade with far-reaching extraterritorial impacts.
The US blockade on Cuba not only affects the island nation but also hampers other countries and their companies from establishing or enhancing trade and investment relations with Cuba.
Financial transactions are also restricted, depriving Cuba of acquiring technologies and equipment, especially those with over 10% of US value addition.
The call for lifting the sanctions comes as the African National Congress (ANC) and its allies, including the South African Communist Party (SACP), Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), and South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco), join Cuban solidarity civil society organizations for the seventh African Continental Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba in Mpumalanga.
The meeting, held at Ingonyama Sports Resorts in White River from January 15 to 17, aims to strengthen the relationship between the participating nations and Cuba.
In a joint statement, the organizations strongly condemned the actions of the United States, labeling the blockade as illegal and inclusive of unilateral sanctions that undermine the United Nations’ legal and multilateral frameworks.
The statement accuses the US of engaging in economic warfare, political attacks, and propaganda against Cuba’s sovereignty and government.
The organizations assert that the US seeks to usurp Cuba’s fundamental right to national self-determination, drive regime change, and impose its development path on the island nation.
Expressing solidarity with the Cuban government, the statement emphasizes the collective demand for the United States to unconditionally end its occupation of Guantanamo Bay, considered an inseparable part of Cuba’s territory.
This show of support follows the recent actions of the South African legal team, which filed a genocide case against the Israeli government in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague, accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
The joint stance of African nations against unjust practices further strengthens the global call for justice and solidarity.
As the first year of implementing the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Act, 2013, in Kenya draws to a close this month, there is a palpable sense of confusion within the country’s employment sector regarding expected changes in pension contributions.
The NSSF Act, which began implementation in February last year, marked a significant shift from a flat mandatory pension contribution of Sh200 per employee to a graduated plan that is set to eventually reach six percent of employees’ salaries.
The latest Economic Survey by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) last year revealed that the national average monthly earnings per employee in 2022 stood at Sh72,130. This crucial figure has implications for mandatory pension contributions, particularly for those earning above a certain threshold.
Currently, employees earning a monthly salary of Sh6,000 have been contributing Sh360, while those earning Sh18,000 and above contribute Sh1,080 to the mandatory pension fund, with their employers matching these contributions. The confusion arises from discrepancies between the NSSF Act, 2013, and communications made by NSSF management last year.
Former NSSF CEO David Mwangangi, in a communication to employers, stated that after the first year, the base earnings limit and subsequent deductions would be determined by the Labour, Social Security, and Services Cabinet Secretary, creating apparent contradictions with the law.
The NSSF Act, 2013, outlines a clear plan for the first five years of implementation. However, a communication by NSSF management last year seemed to deviate from the stipulations in the law, causing uncertainty in the employment sector.
According to the Act, the lower earnings limit and upper earnings limit for the first four years after the commencement date should be in accordance with a specified table. After the fourth year, the lower earnings limit is expected to be the average statutory minimum monthly basic wage, and the upper earnings limit should be four times the national average earnings.
Despite the clear directives in the law, confusion arises from last year’s communication, which suggested deviations from the prescribed limits. It remains unclear whether the lower earnings limit will be based on the 2013 figures or calculated in present terms.
Efforts to seek clarification from NSSF CEO David Koross and the Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) Executive Director Jacqueline Mugo were unsuccessful at the time of writing this article.
Under the new law, mandatory pension contributions are categorized into two tiers: tier one, which factors pensionable earnings up to the lower earnings limit, and tier two, which considers pensionable earnings between the lower and upper earnings limits.
President William Ruto has expressed a keen interest in growing NSSF contributions since his election in August 2022, with a goal to reach Sh1 trillion by 2027.
The confusion surrounding the NSSF contributions underscores the need for clear communication and guidance as the country navigates through the complexities of pension reforms.
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