Zimbabwe's scrap metal hunters fight climate change a piece at a time
Mabhiza joined in. For the next several hours, he scoured the sites around Harare, using a stick or his bare hands to sift through piles of filth, from discarded diapers to broken appliances. By midday, his pushcart was full. Springs from old mattresses, car parts, tin cans — it all added up to 66 kilograms (145 pounds) of salvaged metal.
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News24
2 hours ago
- News24
Big PSL move for McKenzie's son; Mabuza's family speaks: Today's top 7 stories in 7 minutes
News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day. News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles via our customised text-to-speech feature. Alfonso Nqunjana/News24 David Mabuza's sudden death linked to breathing complications, says family - Former deputy president David Mabuza died in a Gauteng hospital on Thursday after experiencing breathing difficulties. - Family spokesperson Desmond Moela shared that Mabuza died in the emergency room while doctors were trying to stabilise him. - Mabuza is remembered as a humble leader dedicated to improving socio-economic conditions, and tributes have been pouring in since his death. Teachers unpaid, 519 underperforming schools left waiting as education programme collapses - TCN Holdings' Smart Study Intervention Programme, aimed at improving maths and science education in underperforming schools, has stalled due to a lack of funding, leaving staff unpaid since March. - MTN South Africa has denied any partnership with TCN Holdings and has initiated legal consultations and a forensic investigation due to the unauthorised use of its name. - Despite promises and contracts, the programme never launched in the six targeted provinces, and staff members, including those who resigned from previous jobs, have not received their salaries. Sharon Seretlo/Gallo Images Springs rocked by explosion, police, paramedics at the scene - An explosion occurred in Slovo Park, Springs, causing a shack and vehicle to catch alight. - No casualties were reported at the scene, but bystanders indicated three people were taken to the hospital. - Several houses were damaged, and the police bomb squad is investigating the cause of the explosion. 'Dad, I want to talk to you': How Gayton McKenzie's son bought SuperSport PSL status - Gayton McKenzie's son, Calvin Le John, is poised to become a PSL club owner by acquiring SuperSport United's status through Siwelele FC. - Gayton McKenzie asserts he has no ties to the club, emphasising his son's independence and decision to change his surname to forge his own path. - Calvin Le John, described as business-savvy, plans to establish a football hub in Bloemfontein, aiming to revive the region's football passion after Bloemfontein Celtic's demise. News24/ Na'ilah Ebrahim VIPs and vouchers: New Woolies rewards a retail 'first', says CEO - Woolworths is launching a new tiered rewards programme called MyDifference, offering instant cash savings and vouchers. - MyDifference aims to improve brand loyalty with tiered membership levels (loyalty, ambassador, VIP) based on spending, offering increasing rewards like cashback and vouchers. - The programme will also incorporate Woolworths' existing charity-focused MySchool, MyPlanet, and MyVillage programmes, which currently raise R7 million monthly. Seb Daly/Gallo Images Jake White and Bulls agree to part ways after five years - Jake White and the Bulls have mutually agreed to part ways effective immediately after four seasons. - Reports suggest a player revolt and strained relationships with staff contributed to White's departure. - The Bulls are reportedly interested in Johan Ackermann and Johann van Graan as potential successors. The kind of trainers you choose will impact your workout and your bones. Are your running shoes sabotaging your knees? Here's how to choose the perfect fit - Wearing proper workout shoes is crucial for preventing injuries like knee pain and shin splints due to the support and cushioning they provide. - When selecting workout shoes, consider your foot and arch type, prioritise a comfortable and secure fit, and evaluate key features like cushioning, support, and durability. - Workout shoe prices in South Africa range from affordable options like Mr Price Maxed (R500+) to premium brands like Nike (up to R3 000).
Associated Press
2 hours ago
- Associated Press
UN experts say Rwanda supported rebels in Congo and smuggled minerals at ‘unprecedented levels'
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Rwanda provided 'critical' support to the M23 rebels' recent offensive in eastern Congo, which helped secure Kigali's access to minerals and fertile ground, according to a confidential United Nations report seen by The Associated Press. The Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group is the most prominent armed group in the conflict in Eastern Congo, which has been in and out of crises for decades. The rebels earlier this year advanced and seized the strategic city of Goma and Bukavu in a major escalation of the conflict. Rwanda has denied any involvement. But U.N. experts say Kigali provided backing to the rebels with an aim to 'control the territory of the DRC and its natural resources,' using 'advanced military equipment, including jamming systems, short-range air defense system and armed drones.' Rwanda has been accused of exploiting eastern Congo's minerals, used in smartphones, advanced fighter jets and much more, which Kigali denies. The report said that smuggling of coltan, considered a critical mineral, from M23-controlled territories in recent months reached 'unprecedented levels.' 'Evidence indicated increasing risk of cross-border fraud as minerals from North Kivu, particularly coltan from the AFC-controlled Rubaya mine, continued to be smuggled to Rwanda.' the report said. 'These minerals were then mixed with production of Rwandan origin and exported downstream.' AFC, or Congo River Alliance, is an umbrella groups which includes M23. The M23-controlled Rubaya mines produce coltan — short for columbite-tantalite — an ore from which the metals tantalum and niobium are extracted. Both are considered critical raw materials by the United States, the European Union, China and Japan. Tantalum is used in mobile phones, computers and automotive electronics, as well as in aircraft engines, missile components and GPS systems. Niobium is used in pipelines, rockets and jet engines. Congo produced about 40% of the world's coltan in 2023, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, with Australia, Canada and Brazil being other major suppliers. Part of the minerals smuggled to Rwanda were purchased by Boss Mining Solution Limited, a Rwandan company. To justify the plausibility of domestic origins of tantalum, tin and tungsten, the Rwandan Development Board declared annual domestic production of 8,000 to 9,000 tons of these minerals, the report said. The figure was contradicted by the National Institute of Statistics, independent geological studies and ITSCI. Late last month, Rwanda and Congo signed a peace deal facilitated by the U.S. while helping the U.S. government and American companies gain access to critical minerals in the region. But experts said they don't believe it will quickly end the fighting because the most prominent armed group says it does not apply to it. Rwanda denied the allegations from the U.N. report. Alluding to the U.N. report, Rwanda's president Paul Kagame told reporters on Friday:'The expertise they provide, the reports they write actually do not have anything to do with the situation itself. These reports were written long ago — long ago when they were given the mission.' A spokesperson for Rwanda's government, Yolande Makolo, wrote on X that 'Following the signing of the US-brokered Peace Agreement last Friday, Rwanda is fully committed to its implementation.' The report, which was first reported by Reuters, was submitted to the U.N. Security Council sanctions committee for Congo earlier this week, and will be published shortly, said a U.N. official who was not authorized to speak on the matter publicly. Despite Congo's exceptional mineral wealth, over 70% of Congolese live on less than $2.15 a day. The conflict in the country's east has created one of the world's largest humanitarian crises with more than 7 million people displaced, including 100,000 who fled homes this year. The U.N. report also accused all sides in the conflict of human rights violations, including reprisal killings on suspicion of collaboration of the opposing sides. Rwanda and M23 are responsible for 'systematic campaign of repression in occupied areas, including extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrest, torture, enforced disappearance and raids in hospitals,' it said. Retreating Congolese soldiers and members of the pro-government militia 'committed looting, sexual violence and killings.' ___ Associated Press writers Wilson McMakin in Dakar, Senegal and Rodney Muhumuza in Kampala, Uganda, contributed to this report.
Bloomberg
2 hours ago
- Bloomberg
Vandals, Maintenance Missteps Leave Swaths of Johannesburg Dry
Large parts of Johannesburg, South Africa's biggest city, have been without water since late last month as reservoirs struggle to recover from scheduled maintenance and after criminals vandalized a key pipeline. Taps have run dry in an area stretching 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Forest Hill in the south of the city of 5 million people to Craighall in the north, according to statement from the Democratic Alliance, which serves as the main opposition against the coalition that runs Johannesburg. Neighborhoods affected range from impoverished inner-city slums to some of the most affluent suburbs.
