LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — The London statue of British wartime leader Winston Churchill that was controversially boxed up after anti-racism protests will be uncovered for a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron, the mayor’s office said Wednesday. “The covering around the Winston Churchill statue will be removed for the visit of President Macron to London,” said a spokesman for mayor Sadiq Khan. Other monuments to Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, and the Cenotaph war […]
Tag: Nelson Mandela
South Africa after Mandela — high hopes dashed?
by Ben Sheppard JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) — Celebrations marking the 100th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s birth have focused attention on South Africa’s progress since the euphoric 1994 elections that marked the end of apartheid. The country’s the emergence from decades of the white-minority rule was greeted with optimism around the world, but over the last 24 years South Africa has struggled to live up to Mandela’s vision. Race and inequality A World Bank report […]
Winnie Mandela, activist ex-wife of Nelson Mandela, dies
by Ben SHEPPARD and Gregory WALTON Agence France Presse JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) — Winnie Mandela, the former wife of South African anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, died on Monday aged 81, triggering an outpouring of tributes to one of the country’s defining and most divisive figures. The firebrand activist died in a Johannesburg hospital, her family said, adding that she had “fought valiantly against the Apartheid state” and that she was known “far and wide […]
Zuma triggers crisis by refusing ANC’s exit order
by Susan Njanji and Ben Sheppard Agence France-Presse JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) – South Africa braced Tuesday for a major political showdown as scandal-tainted President Jacob Zuma reportedly rejected a direct order from the ruling ANC party to leave office. The power struggle over Zuma’s departure put the president at loggerheads with Cyril Ramaphosa, his expected successor, who is the new head of the African National Congress. The party’s powerful 107-member national executive committee (NEC) met for […]
S. Africa: Ramaphosa calls for unity in maiden speech as ANC chief
by Maryke Vermaak Agence France-Presse JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) – The newly elected head of South Africa’s ruling ANC party called for unity and an end to “vested interests” in politics in his maiden speech Thursday after a bruising leadership contest. Cyril Ramaphosa told roughly 5,000 members of his African National Congress party gathered outside Johannesburg for the much-delayed climax of a five-day conference that the public wanted the “leadership to be united.” President Jacob Zuma has […]
S. African anti-apartheid icon Ahmed Kathrada dies: charity foundation
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) — Leading South African anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada, who was one of Nelson Mandela’s closest colleagues, died early Tuesday aged 87, Kathrada’s charity foundation said. Kathrada was among those tried and jailed alongside Mandela in the Rivonia trial in 1964, which drew worldwide attention and highlighted the brutal legal system under the apartheid regime. Kathrada spent 26 years and 3 months in prison, 18 of which were on Robben Island.
Nelson Mandela leaves $4 million estate to family, staff, ANC
(Reuters) – Former South African president and anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela left his $4.1 million estate to family members, the ruling African National Congress, former staff and several local schools, according to a reading of his will on Monday. The will was expected to set off another round of squabbling among members of his large and factious family over the Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s financial legacy. Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke said he was not […]





