Supporters of South Africa’s embattled President Jacob Zuma heckled and disrupted a speech by sacked Finance Minister Pravin Gordan in which he condemned corruption in the governing African National Congress (ANC) and warned that the party could lose the 2019 election. The crowd burst into songs praising the scandal-hit Mr Zuma at yesterday’s memorial for … Read more
South Africa’s sacked finance minister on Sunday warned in a speech disrupted by ANC members that the ruling party risks losing the next general election in 2019 unless it unites. Pravin Gordhan was speaking at a memorial service held in Durban in honour of anti-apartheid icon Ahmed Kathrada. Youth members of the ruling African National … Read more
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma on Saturday hit out at critics within his own camp telling them not to use events such as funerals or memorial services to attack each other. Speaking himself, however, at the inauguration of a former minister’s tombstone, Zuma told colleagues not to use such events “to fight our political battles”. … Read more
South Africa’s former finance minister Pravin Gordhan, whose sacking has fuelled divisions within the ANC party, warned Thursday that the government risked being taken over by “a bunch of gangsters”. President Jacob Zuma sacked Gordhan last week in a cabinet overhaul that threatens to split the ANC party, which has been in power since the … Read more
A memorial service Saturday for anti-apartheid icon Ahmed Kathrada was transformed into a fierce attack on South African President Jacob Zuma, under fire after a controversial cabinet reshuffle. Party veterans of the ruling ANC, sacked finance minister Pravin Gordhan and Kathrada’s widow lined up to criticise the state of the country as the crowd shouted … Read more
Flags were lowered to half-mast and mourners lined the streets outside Westpark Cemetery on Wednesday morning. Many embraced tearfully as the white hearse, escorted by a fleet of police motorcycles and bearing the coffin draped in the ruling African National Congress flag of green, yellow and black, made its way towards Heroes’ Acre. This burial … Read more
South African President Jacob Zuma’s sweeping cabinet overhaul exposes deep divisions between the ANC’s apartheid-struggle old guard and a new generation often accused of not living up to expectations. Malusi Gigaba, 45, who replaced Pravin Gordhan, 67, as finance minister is a fervent Zuma loyalist always ready to defend the president despite corruption scandals and … Read more
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma sacked finance minister Pravin Gordhan in a major cabinet reshuffle after days of speculation that has rocked the country’s markets and currency, replacing him with home affairs head Malusi Gigaba. A statement from the president’s office early on Friday said Zuma had also appointed Sfiso Buthelezi as Deputy Finance Minister, … Read more
A plan by South African President Jacob Zuma to sack his respected finance minister threatened Thursday to split the African National Congress (ANC) party that led the country out of apartheid. Zuma has been at loggerheads with Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan for months, and this week abruptly ordered him to return home from a foreign … Read more
South African President Jacob Zuma has vowed to sack his respected finance minister, a government coalition party confirmed Thursday, in a move which could split the African National Congress (ANC). Zuma has been at loggerheads with Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan for months, and this week abruptly ordered him to return home from a foreign investment … Read more
Ahmed Kathrada is remembered for his strong opposition to racism South African President Jacob Zuma did not attend the funeral amid tensions between the late Kathrada and the ANC. South African anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada is being laid to rest in an interfaith ceremony in Johannesburg. Kathrada, who spent 26 years in jail for acts … Read more
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma is not attending the funeral of veteran anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada at the request of his family. Mr Kathrada called on Mr Zuma to resign last year after he became mired in a series of corruption scandals. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is representing the government at the funeral. Mr Kathrada, … Read more
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma is not attending the funeral of veteran anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada at the request of his family. Mr Kathrada called on Mr Zuma to resign last year after he became mired in a series of corruption scandals. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is representing the government at the funeral. Mr Kathrada, … Read more
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma is not attending the funeral of veteran anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada at the request of his family. Mr Kathrada called on Mr Zuma to resign last year after he became mired in a series of corruption scandals. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is representing the government at the funeral. Mr Kathrada, … Read more
President Jacob Zuma will not attend the funeral on Wednesday of celebrated South African anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada, who in recent years had become fiercely critical of the government. While most of the country’s leadership will be present, Kathrada’s family asked Zuma to skip the event, the president’s office said in a statement. “President Zuma … Read more
Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan returned to South Africa on Tuesday after President Jacob Zuma recalled him from a trade trip, fuelling speculation of a dramatic political showdown. Zuma’s decision to order Gordhan back from Britain in the middle of an investment roadshow led to predictions that Gordhan may soon be sacked — a move likely … Read more
South Africa has lost one of its heroes, anti-apartheid veteran Ahmed Kathrada who died at age 87 on Tuesday. The human rights supporter and patriot died days after undergoing surgery to remove blood clot in his brain. Ahmed Kathrada was one of the eight men including Nelson Mandela found guilty during the iconic Rivonia Trial … Read more
Veteran South African anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada has died aged 87, his foundation says. It says Mr Kathrada passed away peacefully in Johannesburg’s hospital “after a short period of illness, following surgery to the brain”. Along with Nelson Mandela, Mr Kathrada was among eight African National Congress activists sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964. They … Read more
South Africa’s anti-apartheid icon Ahmed Kathrada, who was jailed alongside Nelson Mandela, was feted as a humble liberation hero who shunned the power and glory that came with freedom. Unlike many struggle veterans, Kathrada, who was imprisoned on Robben Island, never held public political office after the fall of apartheid and Mandela’s election as president … Read more
Veteran South African anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada has died aged 87, his foundation says. It says Mr Kathrada passed away peacefully in Johannesburg’s hospital “after a short period of illness, following surgery to the brain”. Along with Nelson Mandela, Mr Kathrada was among eight African National Congress activists sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964. They … Read more