Niger, a vast and intriguing country nestled in West Africa, has a rich history and a multitude of challenges. With over 1.2 million square kilometers of land, the country is predominantly covered by desert, leaving little arable land for its rapidly growing population of 26.2 million people. This has led to rampant poverty, with half of the population living below the poverty line.
The City of Cape Town has announced its plans to construct a new overnight shelter for homeless individuals in Green Point to house 300 people by the end of this year. The “Safe Space” project received full support from the Green Point Ratepayers and Residents Association (GPRRA).
The Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr. Pravin Gordhan, recently addressed the unfounded claims made by the DA. He believes that these claims are intended to mislead the South African public, gain political advantage, and destabilize the ongoing work to rebuild stateowned enterprises (SOEs). Minister Gordhan emphasizes that neither he nor the department will be deterred from their efforts to stabilize SOEs, enhance their governance, provide them with skilled leadership, and enable them to spearhead the government’s developmental and transformation agenda.
The Peace, Security, and Cooperation (PSC) Framework for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes Region has been instrumental in stabilizing the DRC and addressing the root causes of conflict in the region. Therefore, the upcoming 11th HighLevel Segment of the Regional Oversight Mechanism (ROM) of the PSC Framework for the DRC and the Great Lakes Region is scheduled to be held from 4 to 6 May 2023, is significant as President Cyril Ramaphosa will attend it.
The situation in Majola villages of Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape has been dire for years. The village has experienced incidents of violence and crime that have resulted in the burning down of over 140 homesteads and houses and the killing of 22 people in the past three years alone. The conflict has displaced scores of families, leaving women and children destitute.
The upcoming strike by South African truck drivers on 30 April 2023 has raised concerns about the potential rise of lawlessness and criminal activities. In response, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) has implemented measures to mitigate any potential risks and ensure the safety of citizens.
The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) was surveyed in 2021 to determine the attitudes of South Africans towards democracy, and the results reveal a concerning trend of hopelessness and despair. The survey involved almost 3,000 participants aged 16 and over and showed a marked downturn in the country’s mood since the previous study.
