Tributes from journalists and politicians are coming in for prominent South African journalist Karima Brown who died of COVID-19 on Thursday, March 4, 2021. (AP Photo)JOHANNESBURG – Tributes from journalists and politicians are coming in for prominent South African journalist Karima Brown who died of COVID-19 on Thursday. AdAlthough proud of her support for the ANC, as a journalist Brown was critical of its policies as South Africa's ruling party. “For a long time, Karima has been a robust voice in South Africa’s media landscape. South Africa's government aims to vaccinate 67% of its population, about 40 million people, by the end of the year, although critics say the goal is unrealistic.
(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)SENEKAL – A tense standoff between white farmers and Black activists gripped the South African town of Senekal Friday, as two men accused of killing a white farm manager were to appear in court. Sekwetjie Mahlamba and Sekola Matlaletsa appeared in the magistrates' court on charges of killing Brendin Horner, 21, on Oct. 1. About 250 white farmers gathered to protest the killing, charging that police do not adequately protect white farmers. In an earlier court hearing last week, a group of white farmers stormed the court and burned a police vehicle. A great deal of South Africa's best farmland is owned by white farmers, as a result of the eviction of Black farmers when the country was ruled by a white minority.
JOHANNESBURG South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday faced tough questioning by lawmakers over COVID-19 corruption scandals, days after he asked ruling party members to refrain from stealing money meant for the poor. Many South Africans have been dismayed to see the country's widespread graft problem infiltrate efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus. This week his letter to ANC party members cited clear progress since the election, but he scolded: Today, the ANC and its leaders stand accused of corruption. The COVID-19 corruption scandals dominated Thursday's session with lawmakers, but Ramaphosa also was taken to task over the scourge of gender-based violence in South Africa and the countrys dire economic situation. South Africa slipped into recession before the pandemic lockdown that started in March, and its unemployment rate is now above 30%.
A man wearing chains joins a protest rally in front of the U.S. Consulate General in Johannesburg, South Africa, Monday, June 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)JOHANNESBURG South Africa's leftist opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, held anti-racism protests in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town over the death in the U.S. of George Floyd after a white police officer knelt on his neck. The party's firebrand leader, Julius Malema, also charged that South Africa has a problem with racism and brutality perpetrated by its own police and army. The opposition party has offered legal fees to help Khosa's family press a court case against the army for his death, said Malema. He said the government has not properly responded to Khosas death, as the army has already absolved its members of any blame.
