Mandela: A life of soaring symbolism, now harnessed by UN

Nelson Mandela's South African journey from anti-apartheid leader to prisoner to president to global statesman - the "Long Walk to Freedom" of his autobiography title - is one of the 20th century's great stories of struggle, sacrifice and reconciliation. Now the United Nations is seeking to harness its soaring symbolism.

Illinois celebrates first Barack Obama Day

The legislature of Obama's home state of Illinois, passed a law last year to designate Aug. 4 as a holiday. Just a few weeks ago, he spoke before a crowd of around 15,000 people in Johannesburg, South Africa, to honor the life of Nelson Mandela.

Zimbabwe opposition says ‘fake’ results give Mnangagwa win

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa won an election Friday with just over 50 percent of the ballots as the ruling party... . ZANU-PF supporters celebrate the victory of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the conference center where the results were announced, in Harare, Zimbabwe, Friday Aug. 3, 2018.

.com | On the road back to Mandela’s progressive values

The celebration of Nelson Mandela's 100th birthday last week and former US president Barack Obama's address at the occasion brought warmth to my heart, but also caused me to ask with Obama: Were we who believed in a progressive vision of tolerance, a common humanity, a caring, open society and social justice nave? Is this vision dead? "Progressive" is the key word here. Many associate it with left-wing political thinking, others with liberalism, yet others claim the title but are anything but progressive.

South Africa, Obama mark Mandela centennial with charity

South Africans along with former U.S. President Barack Obama were marking the centennial of anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela's birth on Wednesday with acts of charity in a country still struggling with deep economic inequality 24 years after the end of white minority rule.

Obama to lead celebrations 100 years after Mandela’s birth

South Africa celebrates the 100th anniversary of Nelson Mandela's birth this week with a flagship speech by former US president Barack Obama and an outpouring of memories and tributes to the late anti-apartheid leader. Mandela, who died in 2013, remains a global icon for his long fight against white-minority rule and for his message of peace and reconciliation when he was released after 27 years in prison.

US experts share avian influenza best practice with African governments

US avian influenza experts met high-level officials from eight African countries in Pretoria this week, to share best practice in the prevention and control of the outbreak. As part of broader US poultry sector efforts to collaborate with African counterparts to enhance global food safety and security and ensure the success and sustainability of the poultry industry, the first sub-Saharan Africa seminar on avian influenza was hosted by the US Department of Agriculture and the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council this week.

South Africa Exits Recession in Second Quarter as GDP Rises 2.5%

South Africa's economy exited its second recession in almost a decade in the three months ended June 30 after agricultural output surged. Gross domestic product increased an annualized 2.5 percent in the second quarter compared with a revised decline of 0.6 percent in the previous three months, the statistics office said in a report released on Tuesday in the capital, Pretoria.

‘Zuma Must Go:’ Hundreds Of Thousands March Against South Africa’s President

However, Zuma's firing of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in a Cabinet reshuffle has intensified concerns about South Africa's struggling economy and government corruption, and some top ruling party leaders openly criticized the decision. NAN reports that the president welcomed one of the marches, by the civil society group Save South Africa that was planned for outside the Union Buildings, the site of Zuma's offices in the capital, Pretoria, saying it was the group's legal right to do so.

From Opponents To Former Allies, Pressure Mounts Against South Africa’s Zuma

Forward with reshuffle forward... just once of the chants from the #ANCYL at the Germiston stadium this evening. Image by Julia Housdon South African President Jacob Zuma is reported to have fended off calls from within his own ruling ANC Party to resign, prompting a bounce in the fortune of the rand.

Black lives don’t matter in xenophobic South Africa

Foreign nationals and members of various South African civil society groups take part in an anti-xenophobia march through Cape Town, South Africa. Last week was an ugly, humiliating one for South Africa; a country once considered a jewel of democracy on the African continent has been gripped by a wave of xenophobic violence .

Not all foreigners are criminals, says Zuma

President Jacob Zuma on Friday called for restraint ahead of the planned march against foreign nationals which is being organised by a group calling itself the Mamelodi Concerned Residents. "The situation has become more serious in light of current threats of violence and acts of intimidation and destruction of property directed at non-nationals living in South Africa," said Zuma in a statement issued by the Presidency.

S. African protesters demanding free college education throw human feces to disrupt classes

The University of Cape Town re-opened Monday after closing because of security concerns, but police were on campus and used a stun grenade to disperse protesters outside a university building. Another building was evacuated because of vandalism by protesters who tossed sewage in the corridors, said the statement.

Weak Rand Drives South African Corn, Wheat, Soybean to Records

South African grain and oilseed prices surged to records after the rand weakened and international prices increased, making imports pricier just as the country becomes a net buyer of the commodities after a drought damaged local harvests. Yellow corn for July delivery rose 2.7 percent to 3,815 rand a metric ton on the South African Futures Exchange in Johannesburg Monday, the highest level since trading started in August 1996.