A New Coalition Government Will Set South Africa Back
Now, two weeks after its first anniversary, the government has hit another hurdle — and this time the main players have drifted so far apart it may mean the end of the union as soon as this weekend. Threats of a walkout have been made. Ultimatums that must be met by Saturday afternoon have been issued. A new coalition government, more fragile and unstable than the current one, will have to be cobbled together.
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Yahoo
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- Yahoo
Hunger must never be 'weapon of war': UN chief
UN chief Antonio Guterres on Monday said food must not be used as a weapon of war as world leaders gathered for a food summit in Africa, where 280 million people face hunger and starvation. The African Union, for its part, urged donors to provide greater support for the world's poorest continent struggling with poverty, unrest and the effects of climate change. "Hunger fuels instability and undermines peace. We must never accept hunger as a weapon of war," Antonio Guterres told the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa via video link. "Climate change is disrupting harvests, supply chains and humanitarian aid," he said. "Conflict continues to spread hunger from Gaza to Sudan and beyond," he warned amid a severely deteriorating crisis in Gaza, whose population of more than two million is facing famine and malnutrition. The World Health Organization has warned malnutrition in the occupied Palestinian territory has reached "alarming levels" since Israel imposed a total blockade on Gaza on March 2. In late May, it began allowing a small trickle of aid to resume but more than 100 NGOs have warned that "mass starvation" was spreading in the besieged territory. - Millions going hungry - The summit takes place against the backdrop of aid cuts by the United States and other Western nations that are badly affecting much of the developing world. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, head of the African Union's executive commission, said food insecurity was on the rise across Africa, blaming "climate shocks, conflicts and economic disruptions". "At this crucial moment, how many children and mothers on the continent are sleeping hungry?" he asked. "Millions, certainly. The urgency of the situation is beyond doubt." Youssouf said that more than 280 Africans were malnourished, with "nearly 3.4 million... on the brink of famine". Roughly 10 million people had been displaced due to drought, floods and cyclones, he added. Youssouf urged AU member states to devote 10 percent of their gross domestic product to agriculture to help foster "nutritional resilience". "But we cannot do this alone. We call on our partners to honour their commitments to finance and support African solutions," he said. Sudan is "the largest humanitarian catastrophe facing our world and also the least remembered", Othman Belbeisi, the regional director of the UN's migration agency, IOM, told reporters last week. Since April 2023, Sudan has been torn apart by a power struggle between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, commander of the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The fighting has killed tens of thousands and displaced more than seven million people. dyg-rbu/er/ach
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
An attack on a Congolese church killed nearly 40 worshippers. Here's what to know
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News24
an hour ago
- News24
How Makgotso went from being a jobless graduate to building a thriving baking business
Twenty-five-year-old Makgotso Lekganyane from Flora Park in Polokwane, Limpopo, has transformed her passion for baking into a lucrative business opportunity. What started as a necessity – baking her birthday cake because she couldn't afford to buy one – has blossomed into her path to financial independence. The self-employed university graduate honed her skills by watching baking shows on television, and her dedication is now paying off. During a visit to her home, Makgotso told Drum magazine that she felt overwhelmed with happiness when her mother, family members, and friends complimented her delicious, mouth-watering cake. Read more | Limpopo woman Dineo Twala turns parents' home into disabled children's centre 'I decided to gather strength and courage to continue doing what I love most,' she said. Her entrepreneurial journey was born from the frustration of unsuccessful job hunting. Despite earning her Bachelor of Social Science degree from the University of Free State in 2019, after years of hard work and sleepless nights, 600km away from home, Makgotso struggled to find employment. Today, she specialises in cupcake bouquets featuring intricate floral details. 'I opted to make flowers from cupcakes after seeing the satisfaction customers get from eating my cupcakes and the excitement that comes with receiving flowers,' she explained. The self-taught baker believes baking is her inborn talent and gift. Read more | How Sivuyisa beat substance abuse to find redemption 'When I started baking cupcakes, I wanted something that looked beautiful and tasted good,' she said. Her admiration for flowers inspired this flourishing business idea. Initially, perfecting her cupcake flower designs took entire days of practice. Now, Makgotso has ambitious plans for the future. 'I intend to have my own confectionery or bakery business and create job opportunities for unemployed youth,' she said. Her passion for baking began in childhood. 'Growing up, when my friends and peers were playing in the street, I would sit indoors with my mother watching baking shows on television. I learned to bake scones and biscuits from these shows.' 'My mother continued to motivate me, and I was inspired to follow my heart and do what I love most,' Makgotso concluded.
