What is news in South Africa this week (28 June 2024)? From waiting in suspense for the announcement of the new cabinet to racial and political incidents to newspapers closing down. If you are interested in South Africa, here are some impacting headlines in this week’s news.
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The suspension of DA Member of Parliament raises concerns of unfairness in the management of racial issues
Old skeletons have been rediscovered in politicians’ closets after being sworn in as members of parliament. A video of Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament Renaldo Gouws taken 14 years ago was spread on social media.
In the video, Gouws expresses his concern about the rise of racism, hate speech and double standards in the condemnations thereof in South Africa. Gouws specifically refers to the song Economic Freedom Fighters’ (EFF’s) leader Julius Malema and his followers sing, “Dubula amabhunu. This song translates as “Shoot the Boer”.
Per illustration, Gouws starts off by using grotesque discriminatory language towards black people and talks about killing them. Then Gouws stops and says that this is not his opinion. He then asks the viewers to reflect on how they felt after hearing this.
Gouws made this video to illustrate “how white people feel” when the EFF sings their controversial song. Gouws further explains that South Africans should be consistent in their condemnation of racism.
Three years after posting the video, Gouws took it down with an apology. After the video resurfaced, Gouws apologised again unconditionally, but he was temporarily suspended as a member of the DA. He lost his position as member of parliament, and an investigation is pending against him. The Human Rights Commission also filed a complaint, challenging him in a court case.
Why is this unfair?
Shortly after Gouws’ suspension, another video, this time of Member of Parliament and uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK) Party member Andile Mngxitama, resurfaced calling for the genocide of white people. In the video Mngxitama encourages his followers to kill five white persons for every black person killed.
At this stage, no action was taken against Mr Mngxitama in contrast to the drastic action taken against Mr Gouws.
Photos of Ian Cameron, also a DA Member of Parliament, have been spread on social media. These photo’s were taken with his face painted black when he partook in protest action against racism 18 years ago.
Watch this video of Ernst Roets, head of policy at the Solidarity Movement, explaining the details of the event: https://fb.watch/s_720DaWOY/
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President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce the cabinet this week; crisis arose as the president went back on a promise
With the new cabinet expected to be announced soon, President Cyril Ramaphosa caused a crisis in the new Government of National Unity (GNU) when he retracted a promise he made to the DA during the negotiations. President Ramaphosa promised the DA the key ministerial position of Trade and Industry. On Wednesday 27, June he retracted the offer and proposed the alternative portfolio of Tourism.
DA leader John Steenhuisen was disappointed by the decision. The position of Trade and Industry was part of the negotiation process. The DA saw it as an opportunity to make a real difference in the country’s economy and growth.
President Ramaphosa’s decision came after a meeting with the ANC structures. The ANC promised the DA six ministerial potions. The DA tried to negotiate for eleven cabinet positions out of the 30 positions available.
With the stability of the GNU coming under threat as the DA might reconsider its cooperation, the value of the rand weakened by 1,27%. This shows that a GNU with the DA is necessary for South Africa’s economy.
Fortunately for South Africa, John Steenhuisen and President Cyril Ramaphosa found a way to work around this issue. There is now stability in the negotiations on cabinet positions.
The DA was promised ministerial positions in public affairs, basic education, public works and infrastructure, and communication and digital technology, among others.
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Debate continues on the shutdown of the Afrikaans press while CEO walks away with millions
Leading news company Media24 announced that it will discontinue printing certain newspapers, among them well-known Afrikaans newspapers such as Beeld and Rapport. Citing financial reasons for the decision, Media24 announced these publications will only continue as digital publications. This decision means 400 employees will likely be retrenched.
This news came as a shock to the Afrikaans community who supported these newspapers throughout the years. While fiery debate on the matter continues, news came to light that Bob van Dijk, the CEO of Naspers which owns Media24, received compensation of R330 million in the previous financial year and will continue to receive R2,2 million for the next two months.
Solidarity Chief Executive Dr Dirk Hermann says Van Dijk’s compensation alone will be able to cover the losses Media24 are facing. Solidary says it will stand by its members at Media 24 who are now facing retrenchment, and it will demand answers from these companies. Solidarity also submitted a request to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CMMA) to guide the process.
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Thanks to AfriForum, midwife will appear in court for negligence causing the death and disability of babies
AfriForum, one of the institutions of the Solidarity Movement, is a civil rights organisation that frequently supports civilians in their court cases. Two women approached AfriForum to help them to open a case against a midwife guilty of malpractice, which tragically resulted in severe consequences for the babies of these women.
The one woman’s baby died nine days after birth, and the other’s baby was left disabled because the midwife neglected to call in medical assistance when needed after the birth.
The midwife will appear in court for the first time in July on charges of assault.
Read the article here: https://afriforum.co.za/en/former-midwife-who-allegedly-caused-complicated-births-to-finally-be-prosecuted/
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Solidarity won two cases for workers unfairly discriminated against in the workplace
Solidarity is an institution of the Solidarity Movement and it supports persons with work-related issues. Solidarity recently won two cases on behalf of persons unfairly discriminated against in their workplace based on their race.
In the first case, an employee was falsely accused of racism because of a fault in the company’s system, and the employee was discharged with immediate effect. The employee responsible for allocating parking spots accidentally and due to a fault in the system reallocated the parking spots of two black senior employees.
When realising this mistake, the employee immediately apologised and corrected the mistake. The two senior employees still decided to submit a formal complaint of racism. The court found that there was no proof of such action, that the employee made an honest mistake and corrected it immediately. The company has to pay the employee an amount of R150 000 in compensation.
In another case, a police officer of the South African Police Service (SAPS) applied for promotion as Captain along with other candidates. After interviews, the reviewing team found that this SAPS officer was the best and most qualified candidate for this promotion.
The employee had 24 years of work experience at the SAPS. The department decided not to promote this employee but instead to adhere to the Employment Equity Act, and consequently no-one was appointed in the position.
Solidarity supported the employee with further action under the guidance of the CCMA. The CCMA found that the employee should have been promoted and was unfairly treated as no valid reason could be provided for the employee not being promoted, taking into consideration his long-term service in the SAPS.
Solidarity says these two cases should serve as a warning to institutions and employers that unfair labour practices will not be tolerated.
Read the articles here
