Humanitarian crisis: SAFI to host PA delegation in Israel while over two million people starve in Gaza
This comes as two million Palestinians face starvation and suffer attacks at the hands of the state's military force.
"This imminent trip follows a request from the PA for SAFI to organise the tour so that its political leaders can learn from Israel for the good of a future South Africa," said SAFI's national spokesperson, Bafana Modise, in a statement released on Monday.
Modise added that South Africans and political leaders can "Israel's experience in social and economic development, particularly in delivering services that improve quality of life for all."
"The trip is further supported by the fact that the ANC's foreign policy decisions do not represent the will or the interests of the South African people," Modise added.
Modise added that Israel can also gain valuable lessons from South Africa's experiences in nation-building, particularly in nurturing unity and common purpose among diverse communities with differing interests and concerns.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Bushiri Likely to Avoid Extradition as Documents Go Missing in Malawi — Accountant Faces Perjury Claims
Controversial Prophet Shepherd Bushiri may never face justice in South Africa after key extradition documents mysteriously vanished in Malawi. Image: Dimpho Maja/Independent Media Controversial Prophet Shepherd Bushiri may never face justice in South Africa after key extradition documents mysteriously vanished in Malawi. The development has cast serious doubt over the upcoming September hearing, raising fears that the prophet — who fled the country while out on bail in 2020 — could permanently escape prosecution. At the same time, his former accountant, Landiwe Ntlokwana, is at the centre of a legal storm of her own. Once a trusted insider in Bushiri's financial operations, she now faces possible charges of perjury and defeating the ends of justice. South African authorities have been trying to extradite Bushiri and his wife Mary since they violated their bail conditions and escaped the country under murky circumstances. They face multiple charges, including fraud and money laundering. The extradition case was due to be heard in Lilongwe's High Court in September. But reports suggest the documents required to proceed with the case have gone missing from court files — a development some legal observers believe is no coincidence. Bushiri's lawyers have argued in court that the disappearance of the papers is not just a bureaucratic mishap but a deliberate obstruction that could halt the entire extradition process. Meanwhile, Bushiri has continued to enjoy warm relations with Malawi's political elite. He has received praise from senior government officials, including the Minister of Civic Education and National Unity, who also recently honoured Bushiri's wife for her 'positive role in national development.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ While the extradition effort stalls, new controversy has erupted in South Africa involving Bushiri's former financial officer, Landiwe Ntlokwana. The 42-year-old chartered accountant was once closely involved in managing the finances of the Enlightened Christian Gathering Church and Bushiri's now-infamous Commodities Trading Platform, which prosecutors allege was used to defraud investors of millions. Initially arrested alongside Bushiri in 2021, Ntlokwana maintained her innocence and kept a low profile for years. But in a sudden turn, she has now submitted an affidavit indicating she intends to cooperate with the prosecution. The detailed statement outlines how she joined Bushiri's organisation, believing in his mission, and became part of the administration team behind the church's financial schemes. The civil society group Right to Justice has called on prosecutors to formally charge Ntlokwana with perjury and obstruction. The group says her decision to come forward now — after remaining silent for four years — is both suspicious and potentially damaging to the integrity of the legal process. 'It is deeply concerning that she remained silent all this time,' said Siphesihle Jele, the group's chairperson. 'Now, she wants to flip the script. We believe she withheld crucial information, and only revealed it now when it suits her.' Jele added that if Ntlokwana is using her testimony as a way to escape prosecution while implicating others, she should be investigated thoroughly. Legal experts point out that under Section 204 of the Criminal Procedure Act, an accused person can be granted immunity if their testimony significantly contributes to a conviction. But Right to Justice argues that Ntlokwana's sudden cooperation could be a calculated move to avoid jail. Her credibility will now be under intense scrutiny. Prosecutors will need to weigh the value of her insider knowledge against the risk of relying on someone who, until recently, was also under criminal investigation. Meanwhile, Bushiri remains defiant. In recent social media posts, he dismissed his critics as 'jealous politicians' and claimed that his church had created thousands of jobs while uplifting the poor. With extradition efforts faltering and a key former insider now under fire, the case surrounding Bushiri continues to grow more complex and more political.
eNCA
an hour ago
- eNCA
International media groups urge Israel to allow access to Gaza
GAZA - International news agencies Agence France-Presse (AFP), Associated Press (AP) and Reuters as well as the BBC on Thursday called on Israel to allow journalists in and out of Gaza, which is subject to a strict blockade. "We are desperately concerned for our journalists in Gaza, who are increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families," the media groups said in a joint statement. They added that "journalists endure many deprivations and hardships in war zones. We are deeply alarmed that the threat of starvation is now one of them." "We once again urge the Israeli authorities to allow journalists in and out of Gaza. It is essential that adequate food supplies reach the people there," they concluded. AFP | Thomas SAMSON With Gaza sealed off, many media groups around the world depend on photo, video and text coverage of the conflict provided by Palestinian reporters to international news agencies such as AFP. International criticism is growing over the plight of the more than two million Palestinian civilians in Gaza, where more than 100 aid and rights groups have warned that "mass starvation" is spreading. Since the war started following the unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Palestinian militant group Hamas, a small number of journalists have been able to enter Gaza only with the Israeli army and under strict military censorship rules. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in early July that more than 200 journalists had been killed in Gaza since the war began. - Evacuations - AFP news agency has published accounts of life inside Gaza from its reporters this week. It has said it is concerned about "the appalling situation" they face due to a daily struggle to find food. "We have no energy left due to hunger and lack of food," said Omar al-Qattaa, a 35-year-old AFP photographer shortlisted for a Pulitzer Prize earlier this year. "Obtaining food in Gaza is extremely difficult. Even when it is available, prices are multiplied by 100," video journalist Youssef Hassouna said. AFP | - Israel says humanitarian aid is being allowed in and accuses Hamas of exploiting civilian suffering, including by stealing food handouts to sell at inflated prices or shooting at those awaiting aid. The World Health Organization's chief warned on Wednesday of widespread starvation in Gaza, saying food deliveries into the territory were "far below what is needed for the survival of the population". Witnesses and Gaza's civil defence agency have repeatedly accused Israeli forces of firing on aid seekers. The UN said the military had killed more than 1,000 Palestinians trying to get food since late May. AFP succeeded in evacuating eight staff members and their families from Gaza between January and April 2024, after months of effort. - 'Starving' - The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a media freedom group, said in a statement on Wednesday that Israel was "starving Gazan journalists into silence". "They are not just reporters, they are frontline witnesses, abandoned as international media were pulled out and denied entry," CPJ regional director Sara Qudah was quoted as saying. AFP | Eyad BABA Many Palestinian journalists have spoken out or posted about their exhaustion, with Sally Thabet, a correspondent for Al-Kofiya satellite channel, fainting after a live broadcast this week, the CPJ said. Doha-based Al Jazeera, the most influential Arabic media group, also called for global action to protect Gaza's journalists on Tuesday. The channel, which has been banned in Israel, has had five of its reporters killed since the start of the conflict in what it says is a deliberate targeting campaign by Israel. In some cases, Israel has accused reporters of being "terror operatives", such as when it killed a Gaza-based Al Jazeera staff journalist and freelancer last year -- allegations condemned by the Qatari news network. AFP | Youssef HASSOUNA, AFPTV STRINGER
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Appropriation Bill Finally Passed After Late-Night Confusion in Parliament
One of the biggest surprises came when MK Party Chief Whip Colleen Makhubele voted "yes" to the bill, even though her party had clearly said it would vote against it. This led to confusion in the National Assembly, with MPs looking around, unsure if they had heard her correctly. Image: ARCHIVES After a long day of debates and delays, Parliament finally passed the 2025 and 2026 Appropriation Bill late on Wednesday night. The bill, which allows the government to spend money on services like schools, hospitals and roads, was approved with enough votes from members of the new Government of National Unity. But the night did not go smoothly. One of the biggest surprises came when MK Party Chief Whip Colleen Makhubele voted "yes" to the bill, even though her party had clearly said it would vote against it. This led to confusion in the National Assembly, with MPs looking around, unsure if they had heard her correctly Next Stay Close ✕ . Makhubele later said she thought the vote was for something else. She quickly changed her vote to 'no' after realising her mistake. But by then, MPs from other parties had already started heckling her. Some laughed. Others shouted. A few told her she was not ready for the job. But Makhubele stood up and explained herself. 'I am new in this role,' she said. 'Mistakes do happen.' She added that she did not mean to vote in favour of the bill and had simply misunderstood what was being voted on at the time. Even with the confusion, the Appropriation Bill passed. Members of the African National Congress, the Democratic Alliance and other coalition partners voted in favour. This helped the new Government of National Unity show that it can work together to pass important laws, even with all the noise and disagreements. Many South Africans were watching closely. This was the first big test for the new Parliament after the national elections. The bill is important because it tells the government how much money it can spend and where that money will go. Without it, many departments would not be able to function properly. Some people say the mistake by Makhubele was not a big deal. Others believe it shows there is still a lot of confusion in this new Parliament, especially with so many different parties involved. One MP, who asked not to be named, said after the vote, 'This is going to happen a lot. There are too many new faces, and not everyone is on the same page.' So far, the MK Party has not said whether it will take any action against Makhubele. She is still quite new to the position of chief whip, and some say it would be unfair to punish her for what looked like an honest mistake. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said he was happy the bill had passed. He said it was a sign that, despite the disagreements, Parliament was still able to do its job. 'This is an important moment,' he said. 'Now we can focus on getting services to the people.'
