South Africa News
Prosecute Cyril Ramaphosa for Marikana Massacre, or we will – Malema to NPA
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema on Monday challenged the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to issue a certificate of non-prosecution so that the Red Berets can pursue the private prosecution of President Cyril Ramaphosa for the Marikana massacre.
This is despite the Marikana Commission of Inquiry (chaired by retired judge Ian Farlam) into the deaths of 34 striking miners at the Lonmin platinum mine in Marikana finding no credible evidence that Ramaphosa was behind the killings.
Speaking on Monday at a virtual event to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the massacre, Malema lashed out at the NPA and South African Police Service (Saps) for the lack of progress in arresting those responsible for the deaths of the miners on 16 August 2012.
Malema said if the NPA did not issue the certificate in the next three months, they would take the organization to court to compel it to prosecute Ramaphosa or allow the EFF to pursue the route of private prosecution.
We call on the NPA to prosecute Ramaphosa and if they’re not going to prosecute Ramaphosa, they must issue a non-prosecuting letter.
“As the EFF, we want to prosecute Ramaphosa through private prosecution,” he said.
The EFF leader said in 2012, his party had laid criminal complaints against the police, Ramaphosa, and former ministers at the Marikana police station for their alleged culpability regarding the murders of mineworkers at Lonmin.
Malema said since then, not a single police officer or politicians had been held accountable.
“It’s nine years since we opened the case [and] I opened the case myself. No policeman has ever contacted me and no prosecutor has ever contacted me, which is very clear that they’re covering up for each other,” Malema said.
‘We never saw criminals’
Malema said the Marikana massacre was “necessitated by the greediness” of Ramaphosa, who had now been elevated to the “highest office” in the country.
“To us, we never saw criminals. We saw hard-working workers who were demanding R12,500 to go and feed their children…The Farlam commission came and people spoke and contradicted each other.
“To date, no one has been arrested. No one has been fired on the basis of wrongdoing in Marikana,” he said.
It was revealed during the proceedings of the commission that the day before the 16 August shooting, Ramaphosa in an e-mail correspondence with Lonmin executives called for “concomitant action” to address the situation at the mine.
Ramaphosa was a non-executive director of Lonmin at the time.
He told the commission his email was intended to prevent further violence in Marikana due to the deaths of 10 people in the days leading up to the massacre.
Final report findings
In his final report, judge Farlam found there was no prima facie evidence to make the case that Ramaphosa was complicit for the deaths.
The report stated: “The commission is of the view that it cannot be said that Mr Ramaphosa was the cause of the massacre… [the] objective evidence shows Mr Ramaphosa was not aware of the decision on Wednesday August 15 to move to the tactical option.”
In 2017, the president apologized for the events that unfolded at Marikana and the type of language he used in his e-mail correspondence.
Aside from calling for the prosecution of Ramaphosa and others, the EFF also demanded reparations for all the mineworkers who were killed in Marikana, as well as their families and children.
The party said it would engage with the legal representatives of the widows of Marikana to persuade them to prioritize the case for reparations.
-The Citizen
In other news – Inside Somizi’s luxurious Zimbali mansion – PHOTOS
Mohale Motaung confirmed that he married his estranged husband, Somizi Mhlongo in the community of property which, by law means he is entitled to 50% of everything the media personality owns.
Somizi Mhlongo is one of the richest South African celebrities with a net worth of R73 million according to Buzz South Africa, five houses, and about six cars. Learn More
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
In other news – Bad leaders making the life of Nigerians miserable – Pastor Giwa
The senior pastor of Awaiting The Second Coming Of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa, on Sunday, lamented that the economic situation in Nigeria has gone from bad to worse under President Bola Tinubu.
The clergyman noted that bad leaders were intentionally making life miserable for Nigerians. Read more
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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