President Cyril Ramaphosa has congratulated Zingiswa Losi on her election as the first female president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu).

Cosatu plays a critical role in the lives of South Africa’s workers and is an ally in the country’s national effort to achieve inclusive economic growth and equality.

“Ms Losi is part of a growing corps of leadership in our country, who are emulating the examples set by a succession of notable women who have led our society in various capacities. This election is an important step forward and a powerful symbol in the year in which we are celebrating the centenary of Mama Albertina Sisulu.

“I am confident that in this eminent role, Ms Losi will serve the interests of workers with the passion and dedication she has displayed throughout her career as an activist and political leader. In this role she is certain to make an important contribution to our national effort to grow the economy and create jobs,” said the President.

The President hailed Losi’s unopposed election, adding that it “affirms women – and black women in particular- as political activists and social reformers, leaders” in their own right.

Losi previously served as Second Deputy President of Cosatu and is a member of the African National Congress National Executive Committee.

She emerged through the ranks of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), where she began her service to workers as a shop steward.

She served in various Numsa committees until she rose to the position of Cosatu Second Deputy President.

“The unopposed election of Cosatu’s new national officials is a welcome indicator of the unity of vision and purpose with which workers and their elected leaders are engaging in moving South Africa forward,” said President Ramaphosa.

SAnews.gov.za

The British Government on Tuesday restated its resolve to ensure speedy prosecution of more Nigerians living in the UK involved in human trafficking.

The UK Minister of State for Immigration, MS Caroline Noakes, made the assertion during her visit to some facilities of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Lagos.

Noakes, a Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North, expressed displeasure over the high number of NAPTIP cases pending in different courts in Nigeria.

The minister said that she would ensure complete prosecution of all the agency’s cases in the UK.

“We had a recent good success where the UK Government, law enforcement agencies collaborated with Nigeria in prosecuting human trafficker.

“It is a huge step forward to share information and share expertise.

“I am really appreciative of the Nigeria officials coming to the UK to give evidence in court to prosecute traffickers; that is a huge forward, “ Noakes said.

She commended the works done on NAPTIP facilities in Lagos, stressing that within few weeks of approving money for renovation, the facilities had gone beyond their expectations.

“I am here to see the change made on NAPTIP’s facilities by the UK Government.

“In just few weeks, the work done is impressive. The facilities are being changed for vulnerable women and people trafficked.

“It will be a safe place for them to be rehabilitated and reintegrated into the Nigeria society.

“The facilities will help the victims to be comfortable and go through rehabilitation,” the UK minister said.

Noakes was appointed the Minister of State for Immigration on Jan. 8, 2018, while she was also elected Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North in 2010.

The NAPTIP South-West Zonal Commander, Mrs Kehinde Akomolafe, who received the Minister, on behalf of the Director-General, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, commended the British Government for the assistance.

Akomolafe said that the responsibility of NAPTIP was huge which needed more assistance in anyway possible.

She said the agency’s management was doing its best with the available resources, stressing that more suspected traffickers were being prosecuted with 11 cases currently pending at various courts in Nigeria.

Akomolafe said one of their officials was in the UK to testify in a case of human trafficking against one Cassandra Iyamu, assuring the Minister of more collaboration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the UK Minister had inspected the building facility located at the Muritala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, currently occupied by NAPTIP and NDLEA.

She also visited NAPTIP shelters for victims within the state.

The Airport Commander of NDLEA, Mr Ahmadu Garbage and that of NAPTIP, Mr Taiwo Waheed, were on hand to receive the minister.

Efforts to strengthen nuclear security should not hamper the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful means, says Energy Deputy Minister Thembi Majola.

“While we continue to intensify our efforts to strengthen nuclear security, we should be mindful that for the global nuclear security system to be truly effective, it needs to be comprehensive. Similarly, nuclear security should not hamper the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.”

Addressing the 62nd session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) general conference in Vienna on Monday, Majola said South Africa attaches great importance to nuclear security and is appreciative of the role played by the IAEA in supporting member states, upon request, to develop national security plans as well as coordinate the global nuclear security efforts.

The IAEA, which South Africa is a member of, works with its member states and multiple partners worldwide to promote the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies.

Majola said South Africa — whose plans are at an advanced stage to update its Integrated Nuclear Security Support Plan and the ratification of the Amended Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material — is pleased with the support of the agency it has received.

South Africa, Majola said, is committed to attaining the highest standards of safety possible for its nuclear facilities. The country has its Koeberg nuclear plant located in the Western Cape.

“In this context, we continue to support the objectives of the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS). Furthermore, South Africa welcomes efforts undertaken by the agency in encouraging member states to become contracting parties to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, and to actively promote the objectives thereof.”

“We particularly welcome that since 2015, the number of contracting parties has increased,” she said.

Non-proliferation efforts

Majola welcomed developments around the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JPCOA) between Iran and the EU3+3 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and the US), saying it is crucial to non-proliferation efforts and to peace and security in the Middle East.

Signed in 2015, the plan saw Iran agreeing to limit its uranium enrichment activities.

“We thus welcome the various IAEA reports which confirm Iran’s compliance with its nuclear related obligations in terms of the agreement. We urge all signatories to work tirelessly towards the preservation of this historic agreement,” Majola said.

Focusing her attention on North Korea, Majola said the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula remains one of the key challenges facing society today.

“The resolution of this deadlock is an important matter that will go a long way not only towards enhancing peace and security in that region but also strengthen the global nuclear non-proliferation regime. South Africa supports all diplomatic efforts and initiatives aimed at resolving this long outstanding issue,” she said.

SAnews.gov.za

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Report on Tuesday says rapid population growth in the poorest countries, particularly in Africa, has put global poverty fight at risk.

The Foundation said that China had made an unprecedented contribution to reducing global poverty by lifting 700 million people out of poverty over the past 30 years.

The Goalkeepers Data Report 2018 says the population growth in Africa as a whole is projected to almost double by 2050.

This means that even if the percentage of poor people on the continent is halved, the number of poor people stays the same.

If current demographic trends continue, the number of extremely poor people in the world could stop its two-decade decline – and could even rise.

“The demographics are a bit different to what most people expect. You know, the actual total number of births in the world is not going up.

“It’s not more babies being born, but it is babies being born in these poor countries,” said Foundation Co-chair Bill Gates.

In spite the sobering projections, the report expresses optimism that today’s growing youth populations could help drive progress.

Investing in the health and education of young people in Africa could unlock productivity and innovation, leading to a “third wave’’ of poverty reduction, following the first wave in China and the second in India, says the report.

Empowering youth means not only feeding them but offering the opportunities of a quality education, the report says.

According to this year’s World Development Report, a lot of schools around the world are not doing a good job of students learning, even if they are doing a good job of providing access.

African schools are particularly weak in terms of learning.

“So, rather than a pure economic measure, if you look at empowering youth, it’s education and quality of education after the sort of basics of diet and health,” said Gates.

Through essays by experts and journalists, the report examines promising approaches in health and education, highlighting ways that young people could help transform the continent.

Investments in health and education, or “human capital,” in sub-Saharan Africa could increase GDP in the region by more than 90 per cent by 2050, it says.

It calls for the rest of the world, including China and the U.S. to continue strengthening the relationships with Africa.

“China’s a great exemplar in the investments it made in human capital and improving health and the quality of education,” said Gates, citing China’s experience.

At the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) this month, China announced a total of 60 billion dollars of financing for Africa.

Gates said non-governmental cooperation should also be encouraged and strengthened.

Philanthropy in China is growing and some Chinese NGOs not only offer money and assistance to domestic recipients, but go to poor countries to help with kids’ nutrition and education.

“We think that’s a great thing, and we’ll partner with potential partners to work towards common goals and help kids,” Gates said.

Xinhua/NAN

The Constitutional Court has ruled that the use and cultivation of marijuana for personal use is legal.

In a landmark judgment delivered on Tuesday morning, the apex court declared section 4(b) and section 5(b) of the Drugs Act and section 22A(9)(a)(i) of the Medicines Act constitutionally invalid.

The ruling upheld a decision made by the Western Cape High Court which declared legislation criminalising the use, possession, and cultivation of cannabis unconstitutional.

“The effect of the judgment is two-fold; it decriminalises the use or possession of cannabis by an adult in private for that adult person’s personal consumption in private; and it decriminalises the cultivation of cannabis by an adult in a private place for that adult’s personal consumption in private,” said Deputy Chief Justice Raymondo Zondo.

The unanimous judgment delivered by Justice Zondo held that the criminalisation of marijuana in a person’s home or private dwelling infringed on the right to privacy.

Following the ruling, it would be deemed incorrect to charge an adult under the three sections.

The court suspended the order of invalidity for a period of 24 months, to give Parliament an opportunity to correct the constitutional defects in the two Acts.

The ball is now in Parliament’s court to determine the amount of dagga that an adult may use, possess or cultivate in order for it to amount to “personal use”.

Once Parliament has corrected the defects, the Court said police officers as enforcers of the law must consider all the circumstances and the quantity of cannabis found in an adult person’s possession in order to charge them.

“If the police officer, on reasonable grounds, suspects that the person concerned is in possession of that cannabis for dealing and not for personal consumption, the officer may arrest the person, but a court will ultimately decide whether the person was in possession of cannabis with the intent to deal, or for their own personal consumption,” said Zondo.

SAnews.gov.za

Britain and Finland have frozen funding to Zambia on suspicion that four million dollars they channelled into a social welfare scheme may have been misused, the Zambian presidency said on Tuesday.

The social cash transfer scheme is a donor-supported programme under which the government relays money to vulnerable households in rural areas in Africa’s No. 2 copper producer.

The British High Commissioner to Zambia, Fergus Cochrane-Dyet, said in a tweet that Britain had frozen all bilateral funding until audit results are known.

“(Britain) takes a zero tolerance approach to fraud and corruption,” he said.

Officials from Finland did not immediately comment.

Presidential spokesman Amos Chanda said President Edgar Lungu ordered an inquiry three months ago into possible “misuse” of the aid funds between 2012 and now, and a number of suspects were due to be prosecuted.

“They notified us about the suspension of aid to the social cash transfer scheme but all other forms of bilateral aid are ongoing,” Chanda said.

“Following the investigations, the secretary to the cabinet actually presented a report to the president on Friday.”

Lee Habasonda, a political analyst at the University of Zambia, said the withdrawal of the funding would hurt the poor in the southern African country at a time when Lusaka is struggling to manage its debt.

“We hope that the government will take quick remedial measures to ensure that the funding is resumed,” Habasonda said.

Zambia’s external debt rose to 9.37 billion dollars by the end of June from 8.7 billion dollars in December, the finance ministry said in August, a week after the International Monetary Fund raised concerns over its high borrowing.

Reuters/NAN

Some 78 incidents of aid operations were reported in August in South Sudan with most occurring in Jonglei, Central Equatoria and Upper Nile, the UN humanitarian agency said on Tuesday.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said of these, 23 per cent involved violence against humanitarian personnel and 26 per cent involved violence against humanitarian assets.

“This demonstrates how access to key locations where people are in need remains challenging, leaving civilians, aid workers and assets exposed to harm,” it said in its latest report.

“Operational interference, restrictions of movement, and bureaucratic and administrative impediments accounted for 48 per cent, or close to half of all reported incidents,” said the UN humanitarian agency.

South Sudan has been embroiled in five years of conflict that has taken a devastating toll on the people, creating one of the fastest growing refugee crisis in the world.

A peace deal signed in August 2015 between the rival leaders under UN pressure led to the establishment of a transitional unity government in April, but was shattered by renewed fighting in July 2016.

The warring parties again signed the revitalised peace deal in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, amid international pressure to uphold the latest peace deal.

According to OCHA, eight humanitarian staff were detained in August, as the increasing trend involving staff detentions continues.

OCHA noted that three separate humanitarian convoys were looted within one week in Kapoeta East and Eastern Equatoria, all involving the looting of humanitarian supplies.

It said government security forces eased the restriction of movement of humanitarians to Greater Baggari in August, opening up access following two months of restricted humanitarian movement.

“This has allowed assessments of need and initial assistance to reach the population that had fled their homes due to violence,” it said. Xinhua/NAN

Prof. Fatal Badru, a Professor of Sociology at the University of Lagos, on Tuesday said statistics indicated that a minimum of five cases of domestic violence were being reported daily in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Badru spoke at a Symposium organised by Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) in Lagos.

He delivered a keynote address at the Symposium, themed “Securing the Home Against Violence”, and put together to commemorate the 2018 Domestic and Sexual Violence Month in Lagos.

Badru said: “According to the DSVRT statistics, there has been an increase in domestic violence daily in Lagos.

“At least, a minimum of five incidences of domestic violence are reported daily.”

The sociologist said recent doctoral studies also showed that domestic violence was more prevalent in the urban areas than the rural areas.

He attributed the high level of domestic violence in urban areas to psychological factors and stressful living conditions.

“People with disabilities are also highly vulnerable to violence.

“Both men and women with disabilities are vulnerable to domestic and family violence at higher levels than men and women without impairments.

“Women with disabilities experience higher level of sexual abuse,” Badru said.

He advocated the protection of persons with disabilities from domestic violence.

The sociologist called for a need to understand the gendered nature of domestic violence as well as the factors that make individuals vulnerable to domestic violence.

“A key barrier to seeking help for domestic violence is when the survivor depends on the perpetuator for upkeep and survival.

“The principle of respect and value for one another should be re-informed throughout the community.

“This should be done by the education system, community leaders, social and sporting organisations and leaders of faith.

“Securing the home against violence is everyone’s responsibility, ” he said.

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State, at the event, highlighted the role of the home in the upbringing of wholesome children.

Represented by Mrs George Onafowokan, his Special Adviser on Social Development, the governor said, “The home is the first place the child lives.

“The parents are the primary educators of the children and the home is the first place of security of the children.

“Every kind of behaviour begins from the home; it is from our behaviour that children learn, and they are the direct representatives of who we are.”

He said that parents should be cautious in bringing up children because of the effect it has to the larger society.

Also, Justice Sybil Nwaka of the Lagos Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court said the Lagos State Judiciary was taking up the fight against sexual and domestic violence.

“Domestic and sexual violence cases are being expressly disposed of and justice is being served.

“The Lagos State Government and Justice Sector are coming to the doorsteps of people, creating awareness, encouraging survivors to come forward and not be afraid of stigma,” Justice Nwaka said.