Southern Africa

On Wednesday, April 10, South African police arrested six suspects in connection with the murder of footballer Luke Fleurs. The 24-year-old defender for Kaizer Chiefs was shot while refueling his car last week in Johannesburg. Mavela Masondo, police representative, stated that the arrests occurred early on April 10 in Soweto, southwest of Johannesburg, days after Fleurs' vehicle was found. Investigators believe the suspects are part of a car theft syndicate in Gauteng province. The search for more suspects continues as South…

Thirty years after its first free elections, South Africa is preparing for legislative and provincial elections on May 29, just before the presidential election. Polls suggest that the ANC might lose its absolute majority in the Assembly for the first time. Plagued by allegations of corruption and poor governance, the party that fought against Apartheid is now challenged by dissent from former President Jacob Zuma, who will represent another party. Marianne Séverin, research associate at the Les Afriques dans le monde…

The home of Congolese pastor Joseph Mukungubila was attacked on the night of Saturday, April 7. The unsuccessful candidate in the 2006 presidential election and opponent of Joseph Kabila fled to Johannesburg after being sentenced to death in 2015 for attacks that resulted in dozens of deaths. He has since had his execution suspended and currently resides in the southern part of the South African metropolis, awaiting the possibility of returning to his home country one day.

Former president Jacob Zuma will now be a candidate in the legislative elections scheduled for May 29. The Independent Electoral Commission had initially disqualified him due to a conviction, but on Tuesday, the court, which had been appealed to, finally allowed him to run.

Since three months, maritime traffic in the Red Sea has been disrupted by Houthi attacks. On Sunday, April 7th, the rebels claimed several more attacks. This has led cargo ships that usually pass through the Suez Canal - where nearly 30% of global container maritime traffic flows - to redirect massively through the African southern route via the Cape of Good Hope. Approximately 80% of traffic through the Suez Canal has thus declined, redirecting flows towards the western coast of Africa. A longer route on average by 40%,…

Authorities reported that a bus carrying worshippers from Botswana veered off a bridge in South Africa, killing at least 45 people. An 8-year-old child was the sole survivor and was receiving medical treatment for severe injuries. The bus plunged 164 feet into a ravine after going off the Mmamatlakala bridge in northern South Africa before catching fire, as stated by the Limpopo provincial government. The provincial government mentioned ongoing search operations, but bodies were badly burned or trapped inside the vehicle,…

Law enforcement officials in South Africa apprehended a murder suspect who inadvertently caused a fatal fire, resulting in the deaths of 77 individuals in Johannesburg last year. An unidentified 29-year-old confessed to beating and strangling a man in the building's basement before setting the body ablaze with gasoline and a match. This startling revelation occurred during his testimony at the investigation into the tragic fire that occurred in Johannesburg, one of the worst disasters in South Africa. The suspect admitted…

South Africa is bringing Israel to the U.N.'s top court over "genocide" in Gaza, seeking to halt military operations. Pretoria sends top lawyers to The Hague for an ICJ showdown with expertise in international law and court arguments. A legal 'A-team' led by John Dugard and Tembeka Ngcukaitobi urges Israel to suspend military operations in Gaza. Israel's government calls the case an "absurd blood libel" and selects expert lawyer Malcolm Shaw to represent them at the ICJ. Shaw is known for advising on various…

South Africa has initiated legal action against Israel by submitting a case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the mistreatment of Palestinians during ongoing attacks in Gaza. The ICJ confirmed that the application was lodged due to Israel allegedly violating its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide concerning Palestinians in Gaza. In their statement, South Africa accused Israel of genocidal acts with the specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as…

President Ramaphosa of South Africa condemns Israel for war crimes and genocide in Gaza, urging a diplomatic break. He emphasized violations of international law in a BRICS consortium meeting. Ramaphosa called for a cease-fire, humanitarian aid, and ICC prosecution of war criminals in Gaza. He emphasized that the conflict's root cause is the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza continue, causing a death toll of over 14,000, including a significant number of children and women. In…