It's time to lead Mr President - Real News. Scrolla.Africa

Thursday 11th February
                                        2021, 0145

Real News. Scrolla.Africa

It's time to lead Mr President
Zukile Majova

                South Africans will be hoping to see a different
                President Cyril Ramaphosa than the one who has
                been in charge for the past three years.

When he gives the SONA address on Thursday - in the middle of
a pandemic and a potential constitutional crisis - the big
question will be who he's talking to.

The ANC or the country.

In the beginning, Ramaphosa promised to work hard to rebuild
the nation, rescue the economy, strengthen democratic
institutions and fight rampant corruption.

He's had his moments, but then been knocked back by brutal
forces in the party, and stayed far too quiet for most people's
liking.

The scorecard is wobbly.

  •   Three years later, the Constitutional Court is under attack
      from members of his own party - his predecessor Jacob
      Zuma and party secretary Ace Magashule.

  •   Unemployment has shot to new highs with over three
      million previously employed people now unemployed in
      just 12 months. Obviously, every country has been
      devastated by Covid on this front, but the lack of progress
      generating jobs was already a millstone around
      Ramaphosa's neck before the pandemic hit.

A big challenge is finding a budget to fund the presidential
public employment programme which promised to employ
over 700,000 people over a six-month period.

  •   The securing and distribution of Covid-19 vaccines will be
      top priority and the expected arrival of the more efficient
      vaccine from Johnson and Johnson could start to contain
      the pandemic, which is key to Ramaphosa’s survival.

  •   On corruption, the cabal that plunged the country into
      near bankruptcy - and destroyed so much of state capacity

- is fighting back, though it is questionable whether they
      are emboldened or desperate.

No big fish are in jail yet, but there has been movement on the
big prosecutions so the looters are certainly not home and dry.

  • By far the biggest stain on Ramaphosa's government has
    been the abuse of
money meant to fund various anti Covid initiatives. In his
weekly letter "From the Desk of the President" he appeared to
downplay the scale of the PPE looting scandal.

"The SIU investigation looked into over 2,500 PPE contracts.
While some investigations are ongoing, in many cases the
allegations were found to be without substance and the
companies were cleared of wrongdoing."

The nation wants another glimpse of the Ramaphosa who
negotiated our democratic settlement of pre-1994, the
Ramaphose who spoke to the nation at the beginning of the
pandemic a year ago as we headed into lockdown.

Having captured the leadership with a slim majority at the ANC
elective conference in 2017 his political enemies have been

openly campaigning ever since to dislodge him before the next
conference.

This has been to our detriment: Ramaphosa has spent far too
much time worrying about the unity of the ANC and too little
time over the health of the nation.

The latest push by Zuma and Magashule for a political crisis is a
threat to Ramaphosa's ambition to rebuild the country and the
economy, but one which the people of the country will support
him in pushing back against.

The stakes could not be higher: the unfortunate reality is that
the future of so many millions of South Africans remains joined
at the hip with that of the ANC.

Picture source: @liMokoena

Pistorius could walk free in 2023
Everson Luhanga

World celebrated paralympian Oscar Pistorius
was sentenced to 13 years in prison in November
2017 for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva
Steenkamp.

Now the Supreme Court of Appeal has announced that it will
reduce his sentence after it emerged that an earlier judgment
failed to consider the 506 days he had already served for the
murder of Steenkamp.

The developments in Oscar’s parole saga could open old
wounds for the Steenkamp family eight years after she was
shot and killed in his bathroom on Valentine’s Day 2013.

Pistorius claimed at the time that he mistook her for an
intruder and fired four shots.

However, it is not certain whether or not he will be released in
2023.

Singabakho Nxumalo from the Department of Correctional
services said: “At no point will the Department deny nor

confirm a parole consideration date and month for an inmate
as there are processes that have to be followed.

“All inmates in South Africa become eligible for parole
consideration after serving the minimum required time.

“This does not guarantee parole placement. It is a privilege that
must be earned following our prescripts and ultimately, also
the inmate’s readiness for social reintegration.”

Picture source: @OscarTrial

ANC in KZN stands with Zuma
Lungani Zungu

The ANC in KZN, Jacob Zuma’s home province, has warned that
arresting the former president will have profound and
devastating implications for the ruling party.

At a press briefing on Wednesday KZN secretary Mdumiseni
Ntuli asked the party’s national leadership to “deal with”
Zuma’s issues before it destroys the ruling party.

Ntuli had a meeting with Zuma at his Nkandla homestead on
Tuesday after Zuma defied a Constitutional Court order
instructing him to present himself at the Zondo Commission.

“Zuma told us he believes his rights are being abused,” said
Ntuli.

“This is dangerous. We are not talking about a chairperson or a
province. This is a former president of the ANC and of the
republic.”

He said they wanted the national leadership to get involved.

“We want them to talk to comrade JZ about his stance because
if this is not solved it will destroy the ANC,” he said.

He said the matter was too big for them as a province which led
them to ask the national leadership and President Ramaphosa
to intervene.

“This matter has already torn the party between those who
believe that Zuma is innocent and those who want him to go to
jail.”

On Wednesday a group of ANC members in the eThekwini
region declared war against those who allegedly targeted Zuma
and ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule.

Zuma has not given any indication whether he would appear
before the commission on Monday as instructed.

He is expected to attend the party’s National Executive
Committee meeting on Saturday where his conduct is likely to
be debated.

While some members are calling for his expulsion from the ANC
Ntuli believes the national leadership should be allowed to deal
with the matter.

ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe said he would not comment until
the issue was debated.

Picture Source @PresJGZuma

Hard work pays off as Ndlovu gives it
his all
Menzi Magubane

Siphesihle Ndlovu is living proof that hard work
pays off.

The Orlando Pirates midfielder is making his presence felt and
has already bagged two man of the match awards this season -
a far cry from last season when he joined the Bucs from
Maritzburg United and coach Josef Zinnbauer saw him as
surplus to requirement.

Things were not looking good for the midfielder when last
year’s January transfer window opened. Suffering from a lack of
game time, he was linked with a loan back to his former club
Maritzburg United, but Pirates were hit with several injuries
and suspensions, preventing the move from materialising.

Ndlovu was used mostly out of position to cover for absent
players and ended the season playing less than 15 matches in
all competitions.

But that’s ancient history. His two man of the match awards
this season both came against Cape Town City, first in the
MTN8 and on Tuesday in the DStv Premiership.

"Whatever happened in the past happened. What is important
is that I’m there for the team. I've worked hard and I'm always
positive. That is paying off now," said Ndlovu.

On Tuesday Ndlovu played most of the match with a head
injury after a collision with his teammate Thabang Monare.
Monare was taken to hospital for observation after suffering
concussion and was discharged the same night.

Posting on Twitter, Monare said: "Thank you guys for your
heartfelt messages. I'm doing well."

Ndlovu and Monare are expected to play a major role in
helping Bucs qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup. On Sunday
Pirates visit Jwaneng Galaxy from Botswana in the first leg play-
off at Botswana National Stadium at 3pm. The return leg will be
at Orlando Stadium next Sunday at 5pm.

Picture source: @kickoffmagazine

“I am not a cat” U.S. lawyer tells judge
Arthur Greene

              Rod Ponton, an American lawyer, has taken the
              internet by storm after he became trapped in a
              video conference with a cat face filter that
turned him into a kitten during a meeting with a judge.

In the 49-second video, Mr Ponton appears in the bottom right
corner of a Zoom call. His head is covered in white fur and his
large kitten eyes desperately dart around as he tries - and fails -
to remove the filter.

He is joined in the conference by two stoney-faced lawyers and
a judge, Roy Ferguson. The judge is not seen on the screen.

In the opposite corner to the feline Ponton is a stern black and
white notice reading “Recording of this hearing or live stream is
prohibited.”

After a few moments’ silence, Judge Ferguson eventually says
“Mr Ponton, I believe you have a filter turned on in the video
settings, you might want to -”

“Ahhh. Can you hear me, judge?” the “cat” nervously replies.

Ferguson responds: “I can hear you. I think it’s a filter…”

“It is and I don’t know how to remove it,” said Ponton who said
his assistant was trying to help him as well. He said he was
prepared to go ahead with the call.

“I’m here, live. I’m not a cat,” said Ponton.

At this point, one of the stone-faced lawyers, Jerry L. Phillips,
looks ready to burst out laughing, but manages instead to show
a sympathetic smile.

The other lawyer, H. Gibbs Bauer, remains steely behind a pair
of dark glasses.

Afterwards, Ferguson clearly recognised the whole incident as a
teachable moment, tweeting: “If a child used your computer,
before you join a virtual hearing, check the Zoom video options
to be sure filters are off.”

He added, “Everyone involved handled it with dignity - and the
filtered lawyer showed incredible grace. True professionalism
all around!”

Video source: @BBCBreakfast

Vusi Nova opens up on his musical
relationship with Somizi
Lwazi Nongauza

All evidence in the public domain points towards
a brewing romance but socialite Somizi Mhlongo-
Motaung and musician Vusi Nova insist they are
not romantically involved.

The two have treated each other to holiday destinations in a
private jet with bubbly flowing, they’ve had fun in the sun on a
yacht in Cape Town and have taken videos of themselves being
touchy-feely in an infinity pool at an exclusive resort.

Seeing the pics, the videos and the mannerisms between the
two, speculation on social media went crazy.

But in an exclusive interview with Scrolla.Africa, Vusi Nova said
besides their friendship, he and Somizi Mhlongo-Motaung have
always influenced each other musically.

‘’Whenever I am with Somizi, we are always singing,” said Vusi
Nova (real name Vusimuzi Nongxa).

“His views and opinions also influenced how I produced some
of my songs.”

He said they have recently revisited an idea they had for a
music project some time ago.

“I guess the amount of free time the lockdown afforded us
revived the project,” he said.

“What people are seeing now has been in the works for many
years.’’

An emotional Vusi Nova went on to reveal how a shared loss
led to him and Somizi producing their single Ntandane.

‘’Somizi and I spent a lot of time together just after he lost his
mother,” he said.

“I guess one of the productive things that came out of that
grieving process for him and my time reflecting on losing my
mother somehow led us to actually doing a once-off project.”

He said Ntandane (which means the one without a mother) is a
cover version of Busi Mhlongo’s song.

Though Vusi Nova and Somizi are often seen being friendly
together, Vusi still refuses to confirm or deny rumours about a
romantic relationship. He also refused to comment about his
reported relationship with a 28-year woman from Rosebank.

‘’It is really sad that some people and media houses have
decided to take it upon themselves to portray my sexuality and
romantic relationships in any way they like,” he said.

“It’s a shame that some people don’t see anything wrong in
asking provocative and insensitive questions. I choose not to
answer such questions.’’

Shameless Atul Gupta takes
government to court to get SA passport
renewed
Toby Shapshak

                Gupta, 52, is suing the Home Affairs director-
                general for the “unlawful” failure to grant him a
                new South African passport.

Atul, one of the notorious corruption-accused Gupta family
brothers at the centre of state capture, is arguing that he needs
to obtain a new SA passport.

Most of the family has moved to Dubai and have refused to
return to the country to answer questions at the Zondo
commission.

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi publicly stated two
applications for passports from the Guptas were locked in a
safe.

“This means Motsoaledi was in direct violation of his
constitutional duties," Gupta claimed in an application to the
North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, filed in January.

Motsoaledi told eNCA in 2019: “I can confirm that there are
two applications from the Gupta family members. I don't think
we're going to process them because there are still many issues
outstanding with the Guptas."

Even as South Africa is trying to extradite the controversial
family from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Atul Gupta
shamelessly wants a new passport because his current one is
running out of pages.

"In fact, the application was for the issue of a new booklet since
I already possess a valid passport which is valid until 2025 and I
applied for a new passport since the pages on the valid
passport were running out," Gupta claims.

This week acting Public Protector advocate Kholeka Gcaleka
announced that the former home affairs minister Malusi Gigaba
was not guilty of giving the Gupta’s early naturalisation when
they applied for their SA passports.

Picture source: @AtulNaai