Successive South African presidents from the African National Congress, the party that Nelson Mandela led to victory in 1994, have failed to curb rampant corruption and deliver public services. But even if the ANC loses its majority in the upcoming election, the country must continue taking a non-aligned approach to foreign policy.

PRETORIA – South Africa recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of its first democratic election, which brought to power Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nelson Mandela. Post-apartheid South Africa’s “founding father” and high priest of reconciliation, Mandela is revered globally as a secular saint. But today, he is increasingly accused of letting the wealthy white minority off the hook for 350 years of colonial and apartheid crimes, without securing adequate reparations for their overwhelmingly Black victims.

When South Africans head to the polls on May 29, Mandela’s legacy – and that of his political heirs – will face its greatest test yet. In the most consequential election since the country became a democracy, the African National Congress (ANC), which has ruled uninterrupted since Mandela led it to victory in 1994, may finally lose its monopoly on power.

Notwithstanding negative Western media coverage of post-apartheid South Africa, the country has made some impressive socioeconomic progress over the past three decades. Some 3.4 million housing units have been built, 90% of households are now electrified, 82% have piped water, and 18.8 million South Africans receive valuable social grants. (It is not all good news, of course: unemployment has risen to 32%, while 18.2 million people still live in extreme poverty.)

Until last year, South Africa was the only African member of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and the G20. And it continues to be the only African country with a strategic partnership with the European Union.

Moreover, South Africa recently asserted itself on the world stage by accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention in a case at the International Court of Justice. This bold move aligns with the values of the ANC, which has a proud history of supporting self-determination and showing solidarity with fellow liberation movements.

Mandela confounded many Westerners by maintaining close ties with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Cuban leader Fidel Castro, and Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi, all of whom strongly backed South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle. And as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in 2007-08, 2011-12, and 2019-20, South Africa advocated self-determination for the people of Palestine and Western Sahara.

But after becoming president, Mandela’s vision for promoting human rights and democracy did not survive first contact with reality. In 1995, when the Nigerian military junta of General Sani Abacha hanged Ken Saro-Wiwa, an environmental campaigner, and eight fellow activists, Mandela called for an oil boycott and Nigeria’s expulsion from the Commonwealth. Seeking to isolate Nigeria, South Africa instead found itself isolated, as African countries accused Mandela’s government of being a Trojan horse for the West and undermining solidarity on the continent.

Mandela’s deputy, Thabo Mbeki, subsequently reversed course before assuming power in 1999. Mbeki envisioned an “African renaissance,” which entailed creating social-welfare programs at home and establishing a strategic relationship with then-Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo to build the institutions underpinning the African Union. Mbeki also sent peacekeepers to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi, and was involved in peacemaking efforts in Zimbabwe and Côte d’Ivoire.

Mbeki and Obasanjo consistently lobbied the G8 to cancel Africa’s external debt and provide funding for the continent’s socioeconomic transformation, to no avail. Mbeki also sought to democratize global governance institutions such as the UN, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Trade Organization. Moreover, he championed the interests of the Global South by helping to establish the IBSA Dialogue Forum, comprising India, Brazil, and South Africa, in 2003.

During the presidency of Jacob Zuma, who was elected in 2009, South Africa gained entry to the BRIC club. Zuma pursued a mercantilist trade policy that sought to position the country as the “gateway to Africa,” even as its white-dominated corporate giants in sectors ranging from communications and mining to supermarkets and fast-food chains spread their reach across the continent. However, state institutions were hollowed out over the course of Zuma’s tenure, and his administration was accused of widespread graft.

Current President Cyril Ramaphosa, who took office in 2018, has become embroiled in protracted intra-party squabbles and is widely viewed as taking a half-hearted approach to tackling corruption. He has also struggled to revive neglected and mismanaged state institutions such as Eskom, the electricity utility whose collapse has led to rolling blackouts.

Despite these domestic challenges, South Africa has continued to court foreign investors, seeking to make the country an attractive emerging market. Ramaphosa’s foreign policy has scored some successes: as chairperson of the AU in 2020, he pressed for equal access to COVID-19 vaccines, accusing the rich world of “vaccine apartheid,” and, as BRICS chair last year, oversaw the group’s expansion. South Africa also contributes to peacekeeping efforts in the Congo and Mozambique.

It is clear that successive ANC presidents have squandered their party’s political capital by failing to curb rampant corruption and deliver public services. Support for the ANC has fallen to record lows, which suggests that it could receive less than 50% of the vote in the upcoming election and be forced to form a coalition government.

But South Africa’s foreign policy remains broadly popular among its Black majority, despite a vocal, largely white, minority that seems nostalgic for the country’s Cold War-era coziness with the West. To be sure, Mandela’s heirs have at times been diplomatically clumsy – appearing to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, for example, which angered the United States and the EU.

There are many good reasons, however, for South Africa to maintain good ties with its BRICS allies and other Global South countries, as well as sound relations with its traditional Western partners. These include its leadership role on a continent that is growing in strategic importance, its steadfast support of self-determination in the developing world, and the fact that China is its largest bilateral trading partner. Pursuing a non-aligned stance will remain crucial regardless of the election’s outcome, as it offers the best path to economic prosperity and continued influence in global affairs.

Adekeye Adebajo

The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, has stated that the labour union would have disowned the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, if he had adopted the policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank had he been elected Nigeria’s President.

During his appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief breakfast programme, Ajaero described the NLC’s stance on the removal of petrol and electricity subsidies as “fixated.”

He added that the labour union would have it tough with any LP President who implements the policies of Bretton Woods institutions which support the removal of subsidies on electricity tariff and petrol.

The NLC President emphasized that while Peter Obi is the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, he does not own the NLC or the party itself.

He urged a clear separation between the two entities and emphasized that any Labour Party candidate must align with the NLC’s projects and ideologies.

The NLC President asserted that anyone attempting to implement policies contrary to the NLC’s stance, such as those of the IMF and World Bank, would face opposition and disownment from the party.

The NLC President said, “He (Obi) is the presidential candidate of Labour Party but does he own NLC or the Labour Party? Why can’t you separate them? Whosoever is the presidential candidate or official of the Labour Party must buy into our projects. If he says he was going to undertake those policies, let him be elected and try such policies.

“Whether a presidential candidate of a party that Labour forms would dictate for Labour? The answer is known to everybody. The policies of Labour, the ideologies of Labour are clear and we are going to pursue it. If anybody is coming with another ideology, he is going to have it tough with us because that is not what we stand for.

“It (our approach) would have been worst for anybody flying the flag of Labour Party to come and implement these policies, to come and adopt the policies of the IMF and the World Bank. It would have been worst for the person. In fact, we would disown the person, he would be on his own. We have to make this distinction clear.”

[NaijaNews]

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has revealed plans by the Federal Government to offer N200 monthly health insurance to 37,000 women in the country in a bid to enhance their access to healthcare services.

Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja, Kennedy-Ohanenye highlighted that the initiative aims to support women’s well-being and aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

She emphasized that the health insurance scheme, totaling N2,400 yearly, will be facilitated in partnership with a microfinance bank, PLUG.

Proposed women empowerment programs by the ministry

Kennedy-Ohanenye detailed  the approach taken by the government is geared towards empowering women economically. She said the distribution of 37,000 point of sale (POS) machines is aimed to facilitate financial transactions and uplift economic status of women.

“Also, any woman that gets this POS is entitled to almost free health insurance, where you pay just N200 per month, making it N2,400 yearly for health insurance guaranteed by the same microfinance bank, PLUG,’’ she said.

She emphasized the importance of reaching out to various stakeholders, including traditional and community leaders, legislators, governors, state ministries for women affairs, and market leaders, to ensure the effective distribution of resources, particularly in rural areas.

“We are going to traditional and community leaders, legislators, governors, states ministries for women affairs and market leaders to distribute these things.

“In that way, the right people that can manage the business, even in the villages,,will be included in what we are doing.”

Furthermore, the minister announced plans to distribute 300 laptops to women and People with Disabilities (PWDs) as part of job creation initiatives and efforts to boost women entrepreneurship.

• These beneficiaries will receive training in Information Technology (IT) and will be provided with online job opportunities to generate income.
• Kennedy-Ohanenye also shed light on the Pink Riders Initiative, which is set to commence in army barracks to ensure the safety of women operators before expanding to other parts of the country.
• This initiative aims to empower women by providing them with tricycles to support their livelihoods, with the goal of eventual financial independence.
• Moreover, the minister highlighted the collaboration between the Ministry of Women Affairs and the army in agricultural programs to enhance food security and production at subsidized rates.
• She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting the rights of women and children, emphasizing the enforcement of mobile courts for speedy prosecution of offenders and ensuring justice for survivors.

[Nairametrics]

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has again lamented the dissolution of the Federal Universities’ Governing Councils by President Bola Tinubu.

ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke said federal universities are being run illegally without their Councils.

Osodeke stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, while giving a goodwill message during a sensitisation workshop for Heads of Beneficiary Institutions on Career Service Centres, Teaching Practice, Beneficiary Identity Management Service (BIMS) and Hostel Development, organised by Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

LEADERSHIP earlier reported that President Tinubu’s administration had in June 2023 dissolved all the governing councils of federal universities in the country.

Federal Universities have being running without Governing Councils for the past eleven months and that has led to crisis in some institutions.

Osodeke also charged TETFund to consider punishment for universities that are not utilising the Fund’s projects, while emphasising the need for a proper assessment of how the funds are utilised.

“No university in the whole world can be allowed to run for a whole year without governing councils that are saddled with the responsibility of managing the funds of such University,” he said.

[Leadership]

Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have invaded a State High Court sitting in Ilaro, Ogun State, arresting two defendants.

Our correspondent reports that the development has generated outrage.

The defendants , Alhaji Isiaka Fatai and Samuel Oyero, were trial in a suit marked HCP/IC/2023 between the State vs Awode Oladosu & 13 others.

The court was presided over by Justice A.A. Shobayo.

The case bordered on an allegation of arson reported by one Chief Akeem Adigun (aka Socopao) against Alhaji Isiaka Fatai, Oyero and 12 others.

Agosasa community in Ipokia Local Government Area of the state was recently enmeshed in crisis, with property worth billions of naira destroyed and one life lost over an Obaship tussle in the town.

But there was a pandemonium when operatives of DSS stormed the court premises and took away the suspects.

Counsel to Alhaji Isiaka, Kehinde Bamiwola, in a statement , alleged that men of the DSS operatives used weapons on the two, stressing that “Alhaji Isiaka Fatai was beaten, slapped, man-handled, rough-handled and molested.”

 

The Principal Registrar of the High Court and Sectional Head of High Court, Ilaro, Comrade Omololu Olusanya, who confirmed the incident, described it as shocking and disrespectful to the rule of law.

He noted that even after the judge had ordered the operatives not to make any arrest within the court premises, they still proceeded to arrest the two persons.

“They still went ahead and did the act to the extent that they assaulted one of our staff members, Mrs. Fadina, while doing that act. It’s a very sad issue that caused a lot of noise within the court premises.

“It was from the source that we heard they were DSS agents. If anybody sees them, one would think they were armed robbers.

“They did not wear anything that identified them as DSS, but they came to my lord this morning and said they had some people to arrest. That was when we knew they were DSS officers.

“They approached the judge before the court session began. The honorable judge advised them that if they wanted to make an arrest, it must not be done within the court premises.

“They could stay outside and do whatever they wanted, but they refused that advice and carried out the arrest within the premises.” he said.

Peter Afunanya, DSS spokesman, did not answer calls or reply a text message sent at the time of filing this report.

[DailyTrust]

The Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, Sam Amadi, on Tuesday, said it looks like a tragedy to be a citizen of Rivers State.

Amadi said it would be resurrection if sanity returned to Rivers State.

Posting on X, the public affairs analyst wrote: “It looks like a tragedy to be a citizen of Rivers State for at least the last 10 years. The clowning is heartbreaking. Everyday thanksgiving service, rally & press conference.

“The day sanity is restored in Rivers will be a resurrection day. Cry for the beleaguered state.”

This is coming amid the continued cold war between Governor Sim Fubara of Rivers State and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike.

Since October 30, 2023, Rivers State has been embroiled in a political crisis. The crisis became public knowledge following an explosion that shook the hallowed chamber of the State Assembly complex on the night of October 29, 2023.

Following the fire incident, the state lawmakers initiated an impeachment process against Fubara and suspended four lawmakers.

This incident has left the state Assembly deeply divided, with 27 lawmakers aligning with Wike while three remained loyal to Governor Fubara, after the resignation of one, Edison Ehie, who now serves as the Chief-of-Staff to him.

In an attempt to quell the crisis, President Bola Tinubu had in December 2023, intervened in the crisis, leading to the formulation of an eight-point resolution signed by Fubara and Wike.

As the peace pact had failed to quell the unrest in the state, Fubara noted that there might be no end in sight over the continued face-off in the state.

On Monday, the governor hinted that the political disagreement in the state might not be resolved amicably because there was evidence of a deliberate attempt to sabotage his administration.

[DailyPost]

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) told Civil Society Organisations on Tuesday, May 14, that their continued participation in the electoral process will depend on their submission of reports from elections monitored by them.

Speaking at a quarterly consultative meeting with CSOs involved in monitoring elections in the country, the chairman of the commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said CSOs that fail to submit reports from previous exercises may not be accredited to participate in future elections.

He, however, asked them to submit their applications for accreditation as election observers for the September 21 Governorship elections in Edo state.

The INEC chairman said: “As we inch closer to Election Day in Edo State, it is also imperative to remind CSOs of the need to submit your applications for election observation in earnest along with the required supporting documents and a realistic number of individual observers.

“Doing so will enable the Commission to produce and deliver the identity cards for observers in good time. The Commission will not entertain requests outside the deadline for the receipt of applications from interested observer groups or process applications that do not meet the criteria.

“For emphasis, submission of reports from previous accreditation in the manner required by the Commission is mandatory for continuous participation in election observation.

“Since our last meeting two months ago, many accredited observers have submitted their reports but a few are yet to do so. We urge you to do the needful. Your reports are important for us in reviewing and improving our processes and procedures”.

He also announced the existence of vacancies in National and State Assemblies caused by either the death or resignation of Members involving three State Assembly constituencies and one Federal Constituency in four States across the country.

He said: “As soon as preparations are concluded, the Commission will announce the dates for bye-elections in Khana 2 State Constituency of Rivers State, the Bagwai/Shanono State constituency of Kano State, the Zaria Kewaye State Constituency of Kaduna State and the Garki/Babura Federal Constituency of Jigawa State.”

The INEC chairman informed the CSOs of the resumption of the Continuous Voter registration exercise in Edo and Ondo state. He appealed to join us in mobilising prospective registrants for the exercise, particularly on the need to register early and not wait until the deadline approaches when eleventh-hour registrants will inundate the registration centres.

He also disclosed that in addition to the registration of voters in the two states, the Commission will make available uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) for collection during the CVR.

He said: “In the coming days, the list of uncollected PVCs will be published in our offices in the two States and simultaneously uploaded to our website. We believe doing so will make it easier for voters to collect their PVCs.

“However, no PVCs will be collected by proxy. Registered voters should come in person to collect their cards. Again, we seek the support of CSOs in encouraging voters to locate and pick up their PVCs as was done in the past.”

[TheNation]

The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has begun moves to stop the plan by the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, from marrying off 100 orphaned girls.

She said on Monday that she had reported the case to the police by petitioning the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and sought a court injunction to stop the plan pending the completion of investigations.

Mr Sarkindaji announced his plan to marry off the orphaned girls, who lost their parents due to banditry attacks in Mariga Local Government Area.

The official, who slated the mass wedding to take place on 24 May, said the plan was part of his constituency projects.

He said the gesture was “aimed at alleviating the suffering of the impoverished,” pledging to pay the dowries for the bridegrooms and have procured materials for the mass marriage.

Full scale investigation

But the women affairs minister, Ms Kennedy-Ohanenye, while briefing journalists in Abuja, described the plans as “unacceptable” emphasising that a full-scale investigation has commenced on the issue.

“I want to let the honorable Speaker of the House of Assembly in Niger State to know that this is totally unacceptable by the Federal Minister of Women Affairs and by the government. Totally unacceptable!

“Because there is something called the Child’s Right Act and I said it from the outset, that is, no more business as usual.

“These children must be considered. Their future must be considered. The future of the children to come out of their marriage must be considered.

“So I have gone to court. I have written him a letter and written a petition to the IG (Inspector General) of Police.

”And I have filed for injunction to stop him from whatever he is planning to do on the 24th (May), until a thorough investigation is carried out on those girls, find out whether they gave their consent, their ages, find out the people marrying them,” she said.

Girl child education

The minister also emphasised the need to ensure girl-child education.

“As the speaker did not think about empowering these women or sending them to school or giving them some kind of training support financially.

“The women affairs have decided to take it up and we are going to educate the children.

“Those that do not want to go to school, we will train them in a skill, empower them with sustainable empowerment machines to enable that child build his or her life and make-up her mind who and when to get married.

”If for any reason the Speaker tries to do contrary to what I have just mentioned there will be a serious legal battle between him and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs,” she said.

The minister further emphasised within the Child Rights Act, every child belongs to the state, hence the rights of every child will be protected from harm, violence or anything that will infringe on their rights.

(NAN)

The Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulamlik Sarkindaji, has stopped the planned hosting of the wedding of 100 orphan girls in his constituency, saying he would not grace the occasion.

Sarkindaji took the decision following the action of the Women Affairs Minister, Uju Ohannaya, who dragged the Speaker to court to halt the wedding.

The Speaker made this known on Tuesday during a media briefing in which he said the minister had overstepped her bounds.

He said the minister should take over the sponsorship of the wedding ceremony.

The Speaker disclosed that he had already made funds available to the girls’ parents through the traditional leaders and clerics of his constituency, noting that he would not withdraw the funds.

Abdulmalik also pointed out that his motive for wanting to sponsor the wedding was the state of poverty of the girls’ parents and not the constituency project, as reported in the media.

Details later…

Sat in a circle on the nursery floor, a group of Swiss three-year-olds ask a robot called Nao questions about giraffes and broccoli.

By the time these children become adults, interacting with robots may well be as commonplace as using a smartphone, experts believe.

So one Lausanne creche has decided to give them a head start.

Nao has been a regular visitor at the Nanosphere nursery on the campus of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology University since the New Year. He is what is called an “interactive learning companion” rather than a substitute teacher.

As the children were dropped off, Nao — who is only 58 centimetres (less than two feet) tall — stood on a bench to greet them at eye level.

“Hello, my name is Nao. I’m happy to be at the Nanosphere today,” he said, in a child-like high-pitched voice.

“I left my planet some time ago to come and meet you. I look forward to getting to know you and being able to talk with you in the weeks ahead.”

Some children walked straight past, some waved, pointed, touched his hand or simply gazed at him transfixed.

– ‘No squabbling!’ –

“What will the children’s future be like? Will they have to work with robots? Very probably yes,” Olivier Delamadeleine, director-general of the Educalis group of nurseries and primary schools in Lausanne, told AFP.

“So as we are in a place of learning it is important to get them familiarised early so that they’re used to working with robots,” he added.

Back in the class, teacher Eve L’Eplattenier and the 14 children sat in a circle on the floor with Nao in the middle.

“He’s going to come and explain things to you,” she said.

“Do you like broccoli? It’s very good for your health,” the robot said.

L’Eplattenier picked him up and put him on a table. She said Nao would not grow any taller as children do.

The children gathered excitedly around, some jockeying for space.

“No squabbling!” Nao told them.

Prompted by their teacher, the children tried to catch him out with questions such as, “I am an animal with a trunk. What am I?” When he got it right, they giggled.

– ‘Little know-it-all’ –

Gabriel Paffi, a masters student in robotics, sat in the corner feeding Nao his answers.

He programmed the robot and is working on how to adapt it for a nursery’s needs.

“The goal is to make it automated so that he no longer needs me to move around and respond to the children,” Paffi said.

The first Nao robots hit the market in 2008. Now on generation six, the brand is owned by the Germany-based United Robotics Group and more than 15,000 units have been sold.

The plan is for this Nao to spend several years in the Educalis nurseries as his capacities expand.

L’Eplattenier said the children are thrilled when Nao turns up, and have bonded with their diminutive friend.

“They are curious to see what he will say, what he will do,” she said.

“He’s a companion with little tips and bits of advice.

“I think he will quickly position himself as the little know-it-all of the group.”

As for the parents, they too are keen to see how Nao will settle in.

“I think it’s a good way to help the children progress with new technologies,” said Guillaume Quentin.

When it was time for Nao to “fly back into space”, each child in turn shuffled towards him to say goodbye and give him a wave. He replied to each by name.

“I love you. I will come back soon,” he told them.

[Vanguard]