Author: newsnote correspondent
The ANC Ekurhuleni said in a statement it took note of the racist rants made by one “alleged” Belinda Magor on social media platforms. The party was responding to a voice recording that has been circulating on social media, where Magor is heard saying that black men must be killed and black women must be forced to remove their organs in order to stop the black nation from growing. “The woman looks at black people miss, the old days were her ancestors castrated black slaves who resisted slavery. We wish to express that such people have no place in our…
By Moses B. Khanyile The announcement in October 2022 by the US embassy in South Africa of a possible terror attack caused a lot of confusion, concern and, in some cases, anger in the country. The alert advised US citizens and personnel to stay away from large gatherings around Sandton, Johannesburg’s financial centre. Three major events were planned for the weekend of the purported terror attack. These were a major soccer match in Johannesburg, the coronation ceremony of the Zulu king, Misuzulu kaZwelithini in Durban, and the Pride parade in Sandton. All three events went ahead without any incident, prompting…
By Henning Melber Anti-colonial activists in Namibia – calling themselves A Curt Farewell – have scored a victory after a statue of a colonial German officer, Curt von François, was removed from outside the Windhoek City Council in the country’s capital. Namibia was under German colonial rule before being governed by apartheid South Africa, gaining independence in 1990. We asked Namibian political scientist Henning Melber what all the fuss is about – and who the officer was. The statue was erected in 1965 outside the Windhoek municipality’s new headquarters at Kaiserstreet (now Independence Avenue), the main street in the capital…
By Watetu wa Gichuki Every November the United Nations marks a 16-day campaign against gender-based violence. It begins on 25 Novovember, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on 10 December, Human Rights Day. This year’s theme is “UNiTE! Activism to end violence against women and girls.” This theme aims to highlight the impact of COVID-19 on gender-based violence, as well as inequalities in accessible housing, services and resources. During pandemic lockdowns women experiencing gender-based violence found themselves in precarious and dangerous circumstances. Many women facing violence had to contend with the prospect of homelessness…
PRETORIA: Auditor-General (AG) Tsakani Maluleke this afternoon reported “a gradual upward trend” in the national and provincial government audit outcomes and called on the government to instil a culture of accountability in the public sector to improve service delivery to South Africans. Releasing the 2021-22 general report (GR) and material irregularity report for national and provincial departments and their entities, Maluleke said these spheres of government have been gradually improving their ability to report transparently on their finances over the term of the current administration. “By 31 August 2022, we had notified accounting officers and authorities of 179 material irregularities…
An historic Premier League rivalry and English football royalty, Manchester United and Liverpool, are simultaneously open to offers from potential buyers. Goldmann Sachs and Morgan Stanley were asked to gauge interest around a possible sale by Reds owners Fenway Sports Group earlier this month. The Glazer family are open to selling up as United plans to identify “strategic alternatives” and said the process will consider a number of options “including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions involving the company”. The sales are in large part sparked by the £4.25bn (R87,13 tln) takeover of Chelsea. Beyond financial…
By Libby Elizabeth Sander As a case study in how to implement organisational change, Elon Musk’s actions at Twitter will go down as the gold standard in what not to do. Among other things, the evidence shows successful organisational change requires: a clear, compelling vision that is communicated effectively; employee participation; and fairness in the way change is implemented. Trust in leaders is also crucial. Musk, the world’s richest man, appears in a hurry to make Twitter into a money-spinner. But it takes time to understand the requirements for successful organisational change. Two in three such efforts fail, resulting in…
Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United with immediate effect. The decision follows a controversial interview in which the 37-year-old criticised the club and said he had “no respect” for manager Erik ten Hag. Both parties stated that Ronaldo’s exit was “mutually agreed”. “The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford,” said a Manchester United statement. They wished “him and his family well for the future” and added “everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team’s progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch”. United are…
Officials in Qatar are targeting fans showing solidarity with LGBTQ people during the Soccer World Cup. Before Wales’ match against the USA, rainbow bucket hats were confiscated from fans wearing them. According to the LGBT+ supporters group Wales’ Rainbow Wall, male fans were permitted to keep the hats, but female fans were denied access to the items at the stadium in Qatar before their opening World Cup match. Despite the harsh punishments for homosexuality in this Arab country, there has been growing international criticism over its heavy-handed approach.
There was a risk both sides would leave the Al Thumama Stadium with a sense of frustration before Gakpo’s header finally broke the deadlock. Senegalese fans brought colour, dance and unwavering drum-banging, often silencing the Oranje masses, but despite an explosive start to the match on the pitch, it fizzled out as the game wore on. Watford winger Ismaila Sarr had shone on the left for the African champions in the first half, while De Jong controlled the tempo and dictated play for the Netherlands. Neither goalkeeper, though, had been tested by half-time. The Dutch who had wasted two glorious…