South Africa News
Arrested Jacob Zuma needs urgent medical attention
Former South African President Jacob Zuma needs urgent medical attention and might seek medical help outside the country as soon as he is released from jail.
Zuma was taken to the hospital on Friday for “medical observation” and was expected to spend the weekend there.
The former head of state is currently incarcerated at the Estcourt Correctional Centre where he is serving 15 months for contempt of court after he failed to appear before the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture.
Zuma had objected to testifying before then Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, who is now the Acting Chief Justice, citing the commission chairperson’s bias against him. Zondo ruled against his recusal and referred the matter to the Constitutional Court.
As things stand now, Zuma is expected to spend about three months and 22 days behind bars before he can be eligible for parole.
The Sunday Independent reported that Zuma was meant to fly to Cuba for medical help after the Easter weekend, but he pulled out of the trip at the eleventh hour because he didn’t want his detractors to think that he was running away from the arms deal trial.
The trial is set to resume on Tuesday in the Pietermaritzburg High Court in KwaZulu-Natal, starting with Zuma’s application for lead prosecutor advocate Billy Downer’s recusal. Zuma will be in court in person after his lawyers petitioned Judge Piet Koen against the hearing being heard through a virtual platform, citing it as an infringement of his right to a free trial.
Three independent sources with intimate knowledge about the trip to seek medical attention abroad this week confirmed how it was planned and scheduled before it was cancelled.
“Three people were already here identified to accompany the former president to Cuba and stay with him until he comes back but it never happened,” one of the sources said.
“It is an open secret that Zuma needs urgent medical attention because his health is deteriorating. Everyone close to him knows that he hasn’t been well for some time now. And him now being in jail isn’t good for his health,” the source explained.
The third source added that Zuma really wanted to go to Cuba for medical help until some of his close confidants convinced him not to go.
“They kept telling ubaba that people will think that it was a delaying tactic if he flies to Cuba and that he was running away from justice. He eventually bought into the narrative and cancelled the whole trip.
“Not everyone close to Zuma has his best interest at heart. Zuma has some good and loyal people around him as well as some bad people who see him as their jackpot bonanza,” the source said.
Meanwhile, the Jacob Zuma Foundation spokesperson Mzwanele Manyi yesterday said he wasn’t aware that the former president was scheduled to go to Cuba for medical help.
“I am not aware of such a trip and it was before my engagement,” Manyi said.
Correctional Services spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo confirmed that doctors have been monitoring Zuma’s health since his incarceration.
“The former president isn’t a young man and his health is our priority,” Nxumalo said.
He couldn’t disclose how many times doctors visited Zuma in prison since he began serving his sentence but sources within correctional services claim a doctor came at least twice per day to see the former president.
Nxumalo confirmed late yesterday that Zuma was still in hospital and that he is likely going to spend a weekend there.
A statement from the department said according to the Constitution, the department is obliged to make sure that “everyone who is detained, including every sentenced prisoner, has the right to conditions of detention that are consistent with human dignity, including at least exercise and the provision, at state expense, of adequate accommodation, nutrition, reading material, and medical treatment”.
The department also added that Zuma’s health care needs require the involvement of the South African Military Health Services and it has been the case since Zuma arrived at the correctional facility.
“A routine observation prompted that Mr Zuma be taken for in-hospitalization,” the statement read.
But Manyi said Zuma was taken to hospital for his “normal annual medical check-up”.
Manyi stressed that Zuma was not sick and that a statement would be issued once the check-up was completed and a medical report was received by the foundation.
Another source corroborated that Zuma is expected to seek medical help outside the country as soon as he is out of jail.
“There are secret talks for Zuma to go to Cuba or Russia for medical help as soon as he is out of jail. Hopefully, this time around no one is going to talk him out of it,” he said.
Last year in February he returned to a hero’s welcome at OR Tambo International Airport in Joburg after a trip from Cuba for treatment for an undisclosed illness.
The most recent member of the executive to seek medical attention abroad is Deputy President David Mabuza, who returned from Russia after a three-week stay.
–Sunday Independent
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The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has called for transparency, accountability and the elimination of unnecessary expenditures to cut down on the cost of governance in the country. Akpabio made the call on Monday at a one-day dialogue on the cost of governance in Nigeria organized by the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, NILDS, in Abuja.
Akpabio, who was represented by Sen. Agom Jarigbe (PDP-Rivers) highlighted the possible factors contributing to the high cost of governance in the country.He said the size of the country’s bureaucracy, the escalating public service wage bills, the overhead costs of appointed public officials, and the salaries and allowances of elected officials are major factors.
According to him, the running of government institutions among other substantial components contributed to weighing down the economy and hindering development efforts. Let us hold ourselves accountable and take responsibility for the betterment of our nation. We have to ensure that our government operates efficiently and effectively, serving the needs of the people and fostering sustainable development,” he said.
The president of the senate emphasized the need to streamline bureaucracy, eliminate unnecessary expenditures, and ensured transparency and accountability at all levels of governance. We must invest in our human capital, empowering our public officials with the necessary skills and knowledge to drive progress.
“And we must foster a culture of innovation and creativity, where new ideas can flourish and transform our nation,” he said.Akpabio urged all Nigerians to remain united, become agents of change and be committed to making sacrifices for the nation. He said that the 10th Assembly was ready to partner with all stakeholders to do everything within its constitutional powers to make Nigeria for all citizens.
Source: pmnewsnigeria
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Manchester City 0-0 Arsenal. Manchester City and Arsenal handed Liverpool the advantage in the Premier League title race as they played out a bitterly disappointing goalless stalemate at Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool are now top of the table and two points clear of Arsenal after they came from behind to beat Brighton at Anfield, their delight increased by their two closest rivals cancelling each other out.
This was a game that made a nonsense of its billing as a potential classic, as Arsenal’s containing tactics snuffed out City while the Gunners had only limited chances of their own in a desperately poor affair.
Nathan Ake had an early close-range header saved by Arsenal keeper David Raya before going off injured while former City striker Gabriel Jesus posed an occasional threat, just failing to connect with Bukayo Saka’s cross inches from goal after the break.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be happier than City counterpart Pep Guardiola with this outcome – but the real winners were Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool.
Guardiola’s side were under greater pressure to win this match but their usual fluent passing game was rarely in evidence, stifled by the visitors’ organisation and infuriated by referee Anthony Taylor’s reluctance to punish the Gunners for a succession of infringements.
It led to a scrappy, disjointed game in which City were never allowed to gather their usual momentum and rhythm, with even the best efforts of master creators Kevin de Bruyne and Bernardo Silva unable to carve out meaningful opportunities for Erling Haaland, who was kept on the margins throughout.
The hosts held sway in possession for most of the second half but it was illustrative of the game that Raya barely had an anxious moment, his counterpart Stefan Ortega also idle for long periods.
Indeed, it is the first time City have failed to score at home in the Premier League since October 2021, a run of 47 games.
The reigning champions, as usual, will remain confident of retaining their title but Guardiola will be bitterly disappointed at his side’s failure to trouble Arsenal, with substitute Jack Grealish on the end of some lengthy post-match advice from his manager.
City are back here at Etihad Stadium to face in-form Aston Villa on Wednesday night knowing they cannot afford any more slip-ups in this tight Premier League title pursuit.
Arsenal arrived at Manchester City with a point to make and a chance to show their improvement at a ground where they have had a miserable record in the past.
The Gunners last won here in January 2015, drawing one and losing eight of their subsequent nine visits before this game.
Here, Arteta set his side out to be fiercely drilled and well-organised to frustrate, a strategy seemingly designed to earn the point they secured rather than risk more for victory.
It was a conservative approach but what it did demonstrate was that Arsenal do have more resilience and character than on previous occasions, when they have sometimes capitulated under City’s attacking assault.
Arteta’s side were composed but also willing to throw bodies on the line when danger threatened, not that they were ever in serious peril of conceding – a tribute to their display in itself.
They have kept clean sheets in both games against Manchester City this season, making them only the fourth team to shut out a Guardiola side twice in the same season.
Whether this is one point gained or two lost remains to be seen, but Arteta seemed satisfied enough at the final whistle.
source – BBC