2221

2008-07-13 20:52:13

mercy mission

주간 정치.사회요약한 소식들 (07.07-07.11) = 주 남아공 대사관

WEEKLY POLITICAL & SOCIAL NEWS
(JULY 7TH – JULY 11TH)
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA

Politics
        New ANCWYL President puts her weight behind Jacob Zuma
        Cape Judge President faces possible impeachment
        British Foreign Secretary in Pretoria for talks
        Gauteng Scorpions boss testifies at Ginwala Commission of Inquiry
        ANC President denies that he acted unconstitutionally
Foreign Relations
        President Thabo Mbeki participates in the G-8 Summit

Crime
        Employees at Lion Park fear for their safety
        ATM robbers strike again in Gauteng
        Institute for Security Studies warning - ATM bombings
        East Rand Metro Police Chief report on xenophobia

Other Social Issues
        Demonstrations over high living costs
        New coin for Nelson Mandela launched
        Immigrants do not want to be re-integrated
        SA musicians unite against xenophobia
        COSATU marches against food and power hikes
        Violence flares up again at refugee shelter in Pretoria

Neighbouring Countries
        South Africa criticized for not declaring Zimbabwe election illegitimate
        Britain’s Prince Harry does charity work in Lesotho

POLITICS
New ANCWYL President puts her weight behind Jacob Zuma
Newly elected ANC Women's League President, Ms Angie Motshekga says she and the Women’s League fully support ANC leader Jacob Zuma and will do all they can to help during his corruption trial.  Ms Motshekga who is also a member of the ANC’s National Executive Committee was voted in during a conference in Bloemfontein last Sunday.

Ms Motshekga claimed the organization's top position from second favourite, former MP and outgoing Women's League Secretary-General, Ms Bathabile Dlamini.  Ms Motsheka says she is humbled by her new role and has no intention of doing things differently from her predecessors.  She says she will continue the legacy of the League by strengthening the work that her predecessors have done.

British Foreign Secretary in Pretoria for talks
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband held talks in Pretoria this week with his South African counterpart, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.  Their meeting was designed to broaden and deepen already substantial ties between the two countries.

The deliberations were dominated by the Zimbabwean crisis and Mr Miliband's radical proposals to end it.  The Zimbabwe crisis is to be put before the United Nations Security Council this week.  Mr Miliband wants South Africa and other countries to apply pressure on President Robert Mugabe by applying compulsory international sanctions against him and his henchmen.  Mr Miliband also says that any power-sharing deal in Zimbabwe would be unacceptable if President Mugabe plays any role in the Government.  Mr Miliband has called for the appointment of a special UN envoy to Zimbabwe and another mediator to help President Thabo Mbeki’s facilitation.

Cape Judge President faces possible impeachment
South Africa entered new legal territory this week as the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) says it needs to hear oral evidence from the Cape Judge President, Mr John Hlophe and the Constitutional Court before deciding whether it needs to start impeachment proceedings against a judge for the first time.  The JSC recently said that there were disputes of fact in papers submitted by the two parties.

The Constitutional Court says Judge Hlophe approached some of its judges improperly as they were considering cases relating to ANC leader Jacob Zuma.  Judge Hlophe says the Court should not have made its complaint public.  The JSC says it needs to hear oral evidence from the Constitutional Court and Judge Hlophe because it cannot make a decision about whether there is a prima facie case against Judge Hlophe or the Court just on the documents it has received.  This means South Africa will now have the first ever hearings against a High Court judge and the first ever hearings against the Constitutional Court.

South African law experts say that the integrity of the Judiciary is at stake.  The time and place of these hearings is yet to be determined and there is also no word on whether or not the hearings will be held in public.  The leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA), Ms Helen Zille says the hearings are of national interest and should be open to the public and media.

The JSC also says it has turned down a request from Judge Hlophe for five of its members to recuse themselves.  These developments come as the other party involved in these Constitutional Court cases, the French arms company Thint, has written to the Court saying it is unhappy with the way its complaint against Judge Hlophe has been dealt with.

During the past week or so there has been a lot of reaction to comments made by ANC Secretary-General, Mr Gwede Mantashe, who was quoted in the Mail and Guardian newspaper as saying that the judges were counter-revolutionary forces who were preparing the nation for an attack on Mr Zuma.  Opposition political parties have accused Mr Mantashe of attacking the country's judges.

Gauteng Scorpions boss testifies at Ginwala Commission of Inquiry
Gauteng Scorpions (an elite crime-fighting unit within the National Prosecuting Authority) boss, Advocate Gerrie Nel has told how a shocked Justice Minister, Ms Brigitte Mabandla reacted when briefed about the case against National Police Commissioner, Mr Jackie Selebi.

This week Advocate Nel gave evidence at the Ginwala Commission of Inquiry into NPA Head, Advocate Vusi Pikoli's suspension.  The Scorpions prosecutor says he told the Minister of Justice in June 2007 that the Directorate of Special Operations was going to secure arrest and search warrants for Commissioner Selebi.  Advocate Nel says after police refused to hand over crucial documents relating to the case against Selebi a decision was made to secure the warrants.

ANC President denies that he acted unconstitutionally
ANC President Jacob Zuma says he has never acted unconstitutionally and has denied that the ruling party is on a collision course with the judiciary.  Mr Zuma's comments come as the former Education Minister, Professor Kader Asmal initiates a petition and a campaign aimed at supporting the South African Constitution.

This follows allegations that Cape Judge President John Hlophe had tried to influence the Constitutional Court's decision on cases involving Mr Zuma.  Speaking to the Business Day newspaper this week, Mr Zuma also broke his silence about his letter to the Constitutional Court, in which he asked when the Court would rule on his cases.  Mr Zuma says he is entitled to make such an enquiry because it affects him directly.

FOREIGN RELATIONS
President Thabo Mbeki participates in the G-8 Summit
On Saturday, 5 July President Thabo Mbeki departed for Hokkaido, Japan where he participated in the Africa Outreach session, G-5 Leaders meeting and extended outreach sessions of the G-8 Summit, scheduled from 7-9 July 2008.

President Mbeki, supported by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk, participated in these meetings of the G-8 within the context of South Africa’s priority to consolidate North-South relations with a view to fast-tracking the developmental agenda of the South.  Accordingly, President Mbeki was joined by his counterparts from India, Brazil, Mexico, China, Australia, Indonesia and South Korea during these meetings.

During these engagements President Mbeki encouraged the implementation of past G-8 commitments to Africa, whilst encouraging adequate and effective responses to address the challenges of food and energy security in Africa and renewed commitment to the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals.

This year’s G-8 Summit, following the recently concluded African Union Summit and 4th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (IV), will have to affirm that the Africa Action Plan, agreed to at the 2002 Kananaskis G-8 Summit, be the basic and common framework for engagement between the G-8 and Africa.  The G-8 will be encouraged to fully implement the Africa Action Plan as well as to revitalize the implementation mechanism of the Africa Action Plan.

CRIME
Employees at Lion Park fear for their safety
Employees at the Lion Park west of Johannesburg are very concerned about their safety.  A man was shot and killed during a robbery at the popular tourist park last Sunday.  Eight robbers burst into the restaurant and ordered people to lie down while they forced the cashier to hand over money.  Police are looking into security measures in place at the restaurant.

A woman who was in the restaurant when the attack happened says she was assaulted by one of the robbers.  It is understood that the man who was killed was returning from the bathroom and was on his way back to rejoin his pregnant girlfriend.

One unarmed security guard was on duty on Sunday.  The police are sketching identity kits of some of the suspects from information gathered on the scene and they are also searching for four getaway cars used in the attack.

ATM robbers strike again in Gauteng
There has been yet another automatic teller machine (ATM) bombing, this time in Elspark on the East Rand.  Robbers targeted an ABSA Bank machine at the King Fisher Shopping Centre in the early hours of Tuesday morning.  A 15-member gang armed with automatic riffles disarmed a security guard before lacing the money machine with commercial explosives.  They fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

ABSA Bank has confirmed that three other ATM’s were also blown up on Tuesday in the East Rand.  Three ABSA ATMs were targeted in Kempton Park, but it is unclear at this stage if money was stolen there.  ABSA Bank is continuously reviewing security measures to secure its machines and the safety of its customers.  Police say around 160 ATMs have been targeted this year and Gauteng Province has been the hardest hit.

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, another two ATMs were bombed in Lenasia and Turfontein (suburbs in the south of Johannesburg).  Authorities are still hunting for those involved in the incidents.

Institute for Security Studies warning - ATM bombings
The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) warns that ATM bombings are becoming increasingly violent and frequent.
Seven cash machines were blown up in Gauteng Province alone in just the last few days, with almost 300 incidents occurring countrywide since the beginning of this year.

Calls are being made for a dedicated police unit to investigate ATM bombings.  Researchers from the ISS say that people who use ATMs are being put at risk.  The ISS says that banks and the police will have to use their initiative to curb the problem.

East Rand Metro Police Chief report on xenophobia
An intelligence report by Ekurhuleni (East Rand, Johannesburg) Metro Police Chief, Mr Robert Mcbride has found that lawlessness, murderous mobs and politics were behind the recent spate of xenophobic violence.  Mr Mcbride, who is on long leave pending the outcome of his drunk driving trial, was severely criticized when he returned to work during the violence.

Mr Mcbride's report forms part of the National Intelligence Agency’s investigation into the attacks on foreigners.  The report dismisses claims that a lack of service delivery was behind the violence and that no single reason is responsible for the uprising.  Mr Mcbride blames a combination of general lawlessness, protection rackets and local politicians who exploited the situation.  The report also dismisses accusations that the Inkatha Freedom Party (a political party whose supporters are mostly Zulus from Kwazulu-Natal) instigated the violence.  Mr Mcbride suggests a link to a campaign to destabilize the municipal government of former Ekurhuleni Mayor Duma Nkosi and says the municipal workers strike the week after the xenophobic violence was related to the attacks.

OTHER SOCIAL ISSUES
Demonstrations over high living costs
Trade Union Federation, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSAUTU) says pickets and demonstrations over high electricity, food and fuel prices will start in some parts of the country this week.  A series of protests kicked off on Wednesday in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, before spreading to other provinces in South Africa.  COSATU says it is also concerned by possible job losses as a result of black-outs and reduced electricity supply to the mining industry.  The union says that consumers and businesses are being hard hit by rising costs.  The demonstrations will culminate in a national stay away next month.

New coin for Nelson Mandela launched
A new five rand coin to commemorate former President Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday was unveiled at Mandela House in Johannesburg on Monday.  The South African Reserve Bank designed the coin that will soon enter into circulation.  The Chief Executive Officer of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, Mr Achmat Dangor says they are very proud to introduce the new R5 coin.

SA musicians unite against xenophobia
A group of South African musicians have started a social initiative aimed at projecting a positive image of the country following the recent xenophobic attacks.  The initiative, Not in our Lifetime, officially kicked off on Wednesday with the launch of a song featuring a number of top local artists.

A series of public service announcements have already been recorded and a music video and concert are also in the pipeline.  The music-driven awareness, educational and fundraising initiative is aimed at helping those who have been displaced, educating the youth and encouraging entrepreneurship.  The founder of the initiative, Mr Siyabonga Metana says he wants South Africans to get involved, adding that young people and entrepreneurs need to be developed.

Immigrants do not want to be re-integrated
Immigrants housed at the Klerksoord shelter in Pretoria say they do not want to be re-integrated into the communities they fled from.  More than 2,000 foreigners are living in the camp after fleeing from xenophobic violence earlier this year.

The Tshwane Metro Council says the shelter will be closed down at the end of July.  One of the group’s leaders, Mr Joel Nyerero, says nothing has changed since xenophobic violence swept over large parts of the country earlier this year.  Several senior South African Government officials, including Safety and Security Minister, Mr Charles Nqakula, have stressed on several occasions that immigrants will be welcomed back into their former neighbourhoods.

COSATU marches against food and power hikes
The trade union federation, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) says workers should not have to bear the brunt of escalating electricity prices.  About 3,000 workers marched to Parliament on Wednesday, expressing their outrage at the rising costs of basic commodities.  The demonstrators then handed a memorandum to a Government official.
The trade union federation has warned that companies may sack workers as they struggle to settle ballooning bills.  COSATU has called for a basic income grant despite Government rejecting it.

The March organizers also want coal mines and SASOL to be nationalized.  They argue that it is wrong for South Africans to be paying international prices for commodities produced locally.  Similar protests are set to take place across the country later this month.

Violence flares up again at refugee shelter in Pretoria
Violence has again erupted in the volatile Klerksoord shelter for immigrants in northern Pretoria.  The camp, which provides shelter for more than 2,000 foreigners who took refuge since the xenophobic attacks, has been plagued by internal conflict since being established.  It is understood that a group of Somali nationals stabbed a Burundian man on Thursday night after a disagreement about food.

Disaster management officials from the City of Tshwane Metro have apparently ignored warnings that a group of Somalis is threatening other people in the camp.  Tshwane officials could not comment on the condition of the injured man and this is just the latest incident in a spate of clashes between the different nationalities in the shelter.

NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES
South Africa criticized for not declaring Zimbabwe election illegitimate
European Union lawmakers have expressed deep regret at South Africa's refusal to declare last month's election in Zimbabwe illegitimate.  They are now calling on players other than President Thabo Mbeki to be brought into the mediation process.

On Thursday, the European Parliament voted on a draft resolution calling for a transitional administration headed by Morgan Tsvangirai to prepare for fresh elections.  On Thursday, the United Nations Security Council also voted on targeted sanctions against President Robert Mugabe and 13 of his allies.

The Secretary-General of the ANC, Mr Gwede Mantashe says that his party’s talks with Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF leaders are aimed at encouraging them to form a government of national unity.  A senior ANC delegation met President Robert Mugabe and other top Zanu-PF officials in Harare on Wednesday.  Mr Mantashe says dialogue between the two parties in Zimbabwe is the only solution to the Zimbabwean crisis.  Mr Mantashe says the country needs stability as a matter of urgency.

On Thursday, well-placed sources confirmed that Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF and main opposition MDC were holding talks in South Africa on that country's political crisis.  This confirmation came after the MDC’s earlier denial that it was preparing to meet officials from President Robert Mugabe's regime this week.  Sources close to the negotiation process say all three parties (the ruling Zanu-PF, the main wing of the MDC under Morgan Tsvangirai and the splinter group of the MDC under Arthur Mutambara) are conducting talks mediated by President Thabo Mbeki.  The talks between the various parties resumed under a veil of secrecy in Pretoria on Friday as pressure mounted for a lasting solution to the ongoing crisis.

Britain’s Prince Harry does charity work in Lesotho
This week, Britain's Prince Harry visited Lesotho as part of activities of his charity, Sentebale.  Prince Harry and his entourage visited children's organizations in order to carry out infrastructure work to improve services at his elected charities.

Sentebale was formed by Prince Harry and Lesotho's Prince Seeiso, who is Lesotho's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.  The charity aims to assist organizations that look after orphans and vulnerable children, especially victims of HIV/AIDS.

	FRC, 짐바브웨에 식량지원 호소	mercy mission	2008/08/08

만델라 "삶의 중요한 가치는 결속과 관심"

mercy mission

2008/07/13