THIS WEEK
25: The Department of International Relationship & Co-operation, the Palestinian Embassy and the UN in South Africa will host an event to mark the 47th UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. This special event will include the unveiling of a memorial plaque honouring the late President Yasser Arafat and a ceremony to bestow a decoration on the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, on behalf of HE President Mahmoud Abbas (Pretoria).
25: UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
25: Launch of South Africa’s 16 Days of Activism for no Violence Against Women and Children will take place under the theme ‘30 Years of advancing collective action to end violence against women and children’. The launch will be led by the Minister for Women, Youth & Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, supported by the Department of Social Development, the North West Provincial government, the House of Traditional and Khoi-San leaders and multilateral bodies. The 16 Days of Activism Campaign mobilises all sectors of society to collaborate in fighting the scourge of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide and intensify the call for people to challenge attitudes and stereotypes that perpetuate Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (Rustenburg).
25-28: European Film Festival. Hosted by the EU and Libyan General Authority for Cinema, Theatre and Arts, the festival will show Libyan, Italian, Maltese, Spanish, German and French films (Tripoli).
26: The opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) will be challenge Parliament’s decision not to hold an impeachment inquiry into the the Phala Phala controversy in the Constitutional Court. Up against President Cyril Ramaphosa, the ANC and the National Assembly, the EFF says the case is about ‘presidential accountability under the auspices of the National Assembly’ (Johannesburg).
27: Journalist Karyn Maughan who made headlines when former President Jacob Zuma brought a private prosecution against her in an attempt to scupper her reporting on his corruption trial has penned a book, I will not be silenced. She will speak to the Press Club about her personal experience and how powerful individuals attack those who try to hold them accountable (Cape Town).
29: Twelve African films are among the 65 from 32 countries to be screened at the African Diaspora International Film Festival (Adiff). Some of the offerings include Aces, Back of the Moon: Sophiatown 1968, Good Mourning, Joe Bullet, Nothing but the Truth, Quantum, and Sierra’s Gold (New York).
30: UN Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare
OTHER:
* The UN Support Mission in Libya on Sunday saluted the nation for the peaceful 16 November municipal elections. It also congratulated all stakeholders, including the media, and observers for their participation and positive contribution to a peaceful and transparent electoral process.
* The US and Mauritania Governments on Thursday held their second Energy Security Dialogue to ‘consolidate advances and explore new opportunities for collaboration and partnership’ in the energy sector. A joint statement posted by the US Department of State said the Mauritanian government outlined its energy sector plans including regulatory improvements to facilitate its energy transition goals. It said the US detailed ongoing technical co-operation in the electricity sector and provided updates on support to advance Mauritania’s sustainable critical mineral governance and development through the State Department’s Energy & Mineral Governance Programme.
* Amid reports of Angola’s first confirmed case of mpox in its capital, Luanda, the Namibian Government says the country currently has no vaccines for the viral disease. This comes as cross-border migration continues at the Oshikango border, with citizens travelling back and forth between the two countries daily for trade and familial connections. Ministry of Health & Social Services executive director Ben Nangombe has confirmed the vaccine shortage.
* Almost 40 years after he died in Zambia, struggle hero Luvuyo Gladstone Motswenyane-Tayi's remains have finally made it to the Eastern Cape in South Africa, where he was buried close to his Mdantsane home on Saturday. Motswenyane-Tayi, born on 2 February 1954 in Mekeni, Duncan Village, was laid to rest at the Cambridge Cemetery in East London. The liberation stalwart, who died and was buried in Zambia in 1986, was one of 42 former liberation heroes who died in exile and were repatriated two months ago.
* At least 24 people have died after two boats carrying mostly Somali nationals capsized off the coast of Madagascar. A statement from Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said efforts were underway to 'ensure the safe return of the survivors'. The two boats carried a total of 70 passengers. The vessels were discovered adrift off Madagascar's north coast on Saturday in the Indian Ocean. It is believed their engines had failed.
* The South African Government on Saturday welcomed the International Criminal Court’s recent arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant, and Mohammed Deif of Hamas. It said these actions mark a significant step towards justice for crimes against humanity and war crimes in Palestine.
* South Africa’s Department of Sport, Arts & Culture invites applications for bursaries from tertiary students from institutions accredited and registered with the Department of Higher Education & Training who wish to pursue studies in heritage related programmes. Closing date for applications: 31 January 2025.
* The US Embassy in Libya last week reported that the US Government, through its US Agency for International Development (USAID), partnered with French NGO Super Novae to connect seven southern Libyan startups with investors in Tripoli. During an event hosted in Tripoli, these entrepreneurs who completed four months of intensive business development training thanks to USAID’s Libya Economic Acceleration Programme, had the chance to pitch their businesses to banks, investors, and potential customers. The event was part of the Global Entrepreneurship Week 2024 (GEW 2024).
* The mpox outbreak continues to constitute a public health emergency of international concern, the WHO said in a statement on Friday following the conclusion of a meeting of its emergency committee convened in Geneva. The UN agency declared in August that mpox raised the highest level of alarm under international health law following an increase in cases, mainly in DRC and neighbouring countries. WHO chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus agreed with the committee’s advice and determined that the upsurge still represents a public health emergency of international concern. ‘The decision was based on the rising number and continuing geographic spread of cases, operational challenges in the field and the need to mount and sustain a cohesive response across countries and partners,’ the statement said.
* A women’s development and empowerment organisation is calling on African women, including Namibians, to submit their artwork for the African Women in Art Awards. The visual art competition that celebrates the immense creativity of women artists from Sub-Saharan Africa. This project is part of the Kalingalinga Girls Non-Governmental Organisation. In the latest call for submissions on 1 November, Dubeykovska said the awards would offer African women international exposure, as their work would be showcased in galleries across Africa, Europe, and beyond. Shortlisted candidates will be announced on 1 December, and winners will be revealed on 1 February 2025.
* The Libyan Foreign Ministry this weekend announced that Libya will assume from the presidency of the UN International Olive Council for one year from 1 January. Libya, Uruguay and Israel applied for the presidency of the Council, while Iran submitted a request to extend the term of its presidency of the Council.