Dan Roodt, Author at praag.co.za

PRAAG-jonges woon jeugberaad by

Lede van PRAAG-jeug woon vandag ‘n beraad by wat jongmense vanuit ‘n breë spektrum van Afrikaanse organisasies byeenbring. Die beraad vind by Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool in Pretoria plaas en Solidariteitjeug tree as sameroepers op.

Die tema van die jeugberaad is: Die behoud van Afrikaans as onderrigtaal.

Tydens ‘n voorbereidende gesprek tussen PRAAG-jeuglede is die standpunt ingeneem dat Afrikaans net tot sy reg as onderrigtaal kan kom indien eentalige Afrikaanse instellings onafhanklik van anderstalige instellings kan bestaan. Die voorbeeld van België waar die drie taalgemeenskappe elkeen oor ‘n eie onderwysministerie met ‘n eie minister beskik, is genoem as ‘n moontlike oplossing vir die krisis wat as gevolg van die amptelike verengelsingsbeleid in Suid-Afrika ontstaan het.

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‘Enhanced blast’

British soldiers in Afghanistan are being supplied with a new "super weapon" to attack Taliban fighters more effectively, defence officials said yesterday.

The "enhanced blast" weapon is based on thermobaric technology used in the powerful bombs dropped by the Russians to obliterate Grozny, the Chechen capital, and in US "bunker busters".

Defence officials insisted yesterday that the British bombs were different. "They are optimised to create blast [rather than heat]", one said, adding that it would be misleading to call them "thermobaric".

So-called thermobaric weapons have been used by the US against suspected al-Qaida and Taliban underground bases. Combined heat and pressure kill people over a wide area by sucking the air out of lungs and destroying internal organs.

Defence officials described the new weapon as a shoulder-launched "light anti-structure munition".

They said the bombs would be more effective than conventional weapons such as anti-tank missiles which often miss their targets. Even when they hit the damage is limited to a confined area.

The new weapons would be more effective against buildings and structures used by the Taliban, they said.

Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat leader, described the weapons as a "serious step change" for the British army. He added: "The continuing issue of civilian casualties in Afghanistan has enormous importance in the battle for hearts and minds. If these weapons contribute to the deaths of civilians then a primary purpose of the British deployment is going to be made yet more difficult."

The deployment of the weapons should have been announced to MPs, Sir Menzies said. "We need much more transparency."

The MoD said in a statement that it was buying "a small number of enhanced blast munitions for use on operations". It added: "These have been procured in full accordance with the UK’s obligations under international humanitarian law. It is important to us that our forces can choose from a wide suite of weaponry so they can respond appropriately and proportionately to any threat." The weapons would be used "proportionally under specific rules of engagement", the MoD said.

A "legal review" for the weapon – officially the lightweight anti-structure missile (ASM) – considered issues including whether it was prohibited or restricted under international law, whether it could be used discriminately, and whether it would cause unnecessary suffering.

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Guine?rs rand Franse grenspolisie aan

Franse polisie aangerand

Guinee het die Franse regering amptelik om verskoning gevra nadat ses Franse polisielede deur Guineërs aangerand is toe hulle van die vliegtuig in Konakry afgeklim het. Die Franse polisie het onwettige immigrante na hul tuiste van oorsprong vergesel tydens ‘n operasie genaamd "Verwydering" toe die insident op 16 Augustus plaasgevind het.

Terwyl Guinee Donderdag hul spyt oor die gebeure beken het, het die Franse aangedring op ‘n verduideliking asook ‘n versekering dat so iets nie herhaal sal word nie. Polisievakbonde het ook gevra dat hul lede beter beskerming moet geniet in delikate operasies, volgens die minister van binnelandse sake, Michèle Alliot-Marie. Sy het bygevoeg dat sulke optrede van Guinese burgers "heeltemal onaanvaarbaar" is.

Die ses polisielede wat deel vorm van grensbewaking is met hul aankoms in Konakry deur passasiers en voornemende reisigers aangerand. Alhoewel hulle nie ernstig beseer is nie, is die lede almal getraumatiseer deur die aanvalle. Die twee Guineërs wat deur die Franse teruggeneem is na hul land van herkoms het losgekom en was deelagtig aan die rebellie.

Volgens die ses Franse het die Guinese polisie in Konakry hulle ingewag en ook deelgeneem in die aanval. Die twee onwettige immigrante was klaarblyklik uit die staanspoor "aggressief" en het begin gil en skree om passasiers "vir hul saak op te sweep". Verskeie passasiers het die grenspolisie van "onmenslikheid" beskuldig nog voor die vliegtuig opgestyg het en die "verwelkomingspartytjie" wat vir die ses polisielede gereed gestaan het is dmv selfone vooraf vanuit Parys gereël.

Die Guinese regering ontken dat hul polisie aan die aanrandings deelgeneem het. Die twee onwettige immigrante was deel van die groepie hongerstakers wat al ‘n paar weke lank in Lille protesteer. ‘n Woordvoerder van ‘n Franse organisasie wat vir onwettige burgers omgee, Comité des sans-papiers du Nord, sê die Franse regering se optrede is ‘n skandaal. Hy meen onwettige immigrante word soos "ondermense" behandel.

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Belgi? bly sonder ‘n regering n? koalisievorming misluk

Yves Leterme… misluk

BRUSSEL – Die poging van Yves Leterme om ‘n nuwe Belgiese regering saam te stel, het misluk. Ná 40 dae van onderhandelinge tussen die verskillende politieke partye, het hy vir die eerste keer in 40 jaar die Belgiese koning in kennis gestel dat hy geen regering kon saamstel nie. Die koning moes eers uit Frankryk gehaal word waar hy vermoedelik met vakansie was.

België het ‘n swetterjoel partye wat boonop tussen Nederlandstalige Vlaminge en Franstalige Wale verdeel is. Leterme het gepoog om steun rondom die Christen-Demokratiese party te monster en sodoende ‘n meerderheid te kry om ‘n kabinet saam te stel.

Die eerste poging om ‘n regering te vorm, het reeds op 10 Junie – 75 dae gelede – misluk. Vanaf daardie datum het die Franstalige partye teeneise teenoor die Vlaamse partye begin instel, in reaksie op Vlaamse eise van vóór 10 Junie. Hierdie teeneise was vir die Vlaamse partye heeltemal onaanvaarbaar. Vlaminge verteenwoordig 60% van die Belgiese bevolking, maar betaal tagtig persent van die land se belastings. Hulle glo dat hulle deur hul Franstalige medeburgers uitgebuit word wat op die welvaartstaat teer en sodoende van Vlaamse geld leef.

Woesdagaand het die Vlaamse partye van die Franstaliges geëis dat hulle moet verklaar of hulle ernstig is om ‘n nuwe staatsvorming deur te voer. Hulle het egter geen bevredigende antwoord ontvang nie. Tot diep in die nag is gepoog om ‘n kompromis te bereik. Teen middagete gister was dit egter duidelik dat daar ‘n dooiepunt in die onderhandelinge tussen Vlaamse en Franstalige partye bereik is en het Yves Leterme besluit om die koning, die simboliese staatshoof van België, in kennis te stel.

Die Franstalige partye blameer die Vlaamse partye vir die mislukking omdat hulle te veel mag en outonomie wil opeis, asook die regeringsvormer wat volgens hulle nie ‘n goeie werkswyse aan die dag gelê het nie.

Die Vlaamse partye CD&V/N-VA en Open VLD vorm ‘n hegte gemeenskapsfront en verwyt die Franstalige partye, veral die CDH, vir die mislukking. Volgens hulle bly die Franstalige partye die debat ontwyk en "hoor nie" wat die Vlaamse partye bedoel met hul vraag na ‘n "ernstige" staatshervorming wat op groter Vlaamse outonomie moet uitloop nie.

Die leier van die nasionalistiese Vlaams Belang, Filip Dewinter, het reeds te kenne gegee dat die Vlaamse Parlement tot ‘n referendum oor Vlaamse onafhanklikheid behoort oor te gaan. Daar bestaan altesaam sewe parlemente in België, sowel geografiese streeksparlemente as parlemente wat die drie taalgemeenskappe (Nederlands, Frans en Duits) bedien.

Die MR, ‘n Franstalige party, kon die Vlaamse partye nog ‘n ooreenkoms bereik wat die kulturele en sosio-ekonomiese geskille sou bylê, maar nie met die CDH waarvan die leidster, Joëlle Milquet, volstrek nee gesê het. Die CDH het nie goed gedoen in die verkiesing in Mei nie en het gehoop op ‘n koalisieregering met die Sosialistiese Party. Op die huidige sentrum-regse koalisie was die party glad nie voorbereid nie. Boonop sou deelname aan so ‘n koalisie die CDH verbind tot federale hervormings en groter magte vir die taalgemeenskappe waaroor hy aan sy kiesers belowe het dat dit "nooit" sou deurgaan nie.

Die Belgiese koning het gisteraand sy raadpleginge begin en het al die MR-voorsitter Reynders ontvang. Die verwagting is nou dat die koning gou ‘n skakelbeampte of bemiddelaar sal aanstel wat waarskynlik Franstalig sal wees.

Die skakelbeampte of bemiddelaar kan poog om nuwe koalisiekombinasies te vind, of kan terugval op diegene wat die eerste koninklike bemiddelaar, Jean-Luc Dehaene, "die enigste realisties moontlike koalisie" noem. In die laaste geval moet hy of sy poog om ‘n keuse van koalisievennote te vind wat die Vlaamse partye tot koalisievorming kan verlei. Daar is geen ander manier nie. ‘n Regering sonder die sentrum-regse Vlaamse party, die CD&V/N-VA is onmoontlik. En Open VLD sal met geen ander koalisievenoot saamwerk nie.

Dit is ironies dat twee taalgemeenskappe wat ‘n hoofstad, Brussel, met die Europese Unie van 25 lande deel, nie in staat is om mekaar te vind as dit by die samestelling van die Belgiese regering kom nie.

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Alles wel in Zimbabwe…

President Robert Mugabe se regering het gister ’n wetsontwerp aan die parlement voorgelê ingevolge waarvan Zimbabwiërs die meerderheidsaandeel in buitelandse maatskappye gaan bekom.

Volgens ekonomiese kenners kan hierdie wetgewing die ekonomiese krisis in die land aansienlik vererger. Dit sal aan die regering ongekende magte verleen om te besluit hoe buitelandse firmas, ook in die mynbedryf, moet funksioneer.

Mugabe is vas van plan om die wetsontwerp goedgekeur te kry. Sy ZANU-PF-party het immers die meerderheid setels in die parlement. Die nuutste poging van die regering om sy greep op die land se ekonomie te verstewig, kom net ná ’n aankondiging dat die land se inflasiekoers nou op 7 634% staan.

Chroniese tekorte aan petrol, kos en buitelandse valuta is toenemend aan die orde van die dag. Die nuwe inflasiekoers volg op die regering se onlangse besluit dat alle prysverhogings gestaak moet word, wat winkelrakke leeg gelaat en tekorte vererger het. Sowat 80% van die bevolking is tans werkloos.

Intussen het die Suid-Afrikaanse regering Donderdag sy tevredenheid uitgespreek oor die moontlikheid van vrye en regverdige verkiesings in Zimbabwe. Die kabinet het ’n verslag van president Thabo Mbeki aanvaar waarin beweer word dat die president se pogings om ’n ooreenkoms tussen ZANU-PF en die MDC-opposisie te beding “volgens plan verloop.”

Volgens Themba Maseko, regeringswoordvoerder, word vertroue in die verslag uitgespreek dat “hierdie samesprekings tot ’n ooreenkoms sal lei wat die fondament vir vrye en regverdige verkiesings in Zimbabwe sal lê.“

Dit volg op verlede week se SAOG-byeenkoms in Lusaka, waar leiers van suidelike Afrika saamgestem het dat die probleme in Zimbabwe “oordryf word.“

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Guinee ge?nteresseerd in kernkrag

Nadat uraan vroeër vandeesmaand in Guinee ontdek is, wil die land nou in gesprek tree met die Internasionale Atoomenergie-agentskap in Wene. Hulle is op soek na ’n kernkragoplossing vir Guinee se kragprobleme.

Uraan is aan die begin van Augustus deur die Australiese mynmaatskappy, Murchison United, sowat 600 km oos van die hoofstad Conakry ontdek. Volgens ’n regeringsegsman stel Guinee nie net belang in kernkrag nie, maar sal die land ook uraan wil aanwend vir landbou-, medisyne- en nywerheidsdoeleindes.

Uraanpryse het oor die afgelope twee jaar viervoudig toegeneem. Al meer lande wend hulle naamlik na kernkrag te midde van toenemende besorgdheid oor die gevare wat besoedeling vir die omgewing inhou.

Lansana Conte, ’n kettingroker wat Guinee al sedert 1984 regeer, toe hy tydens ’n militêre staatsgreep aan bewind gekom het, het ook ontginningspermitte vir uraan aan twee ander maatskappye, Nova Energy en Contico, toegestaan. Die mineraalryke land het vroeër vanjaar gewelddadige betogings teen die huidige regering beleef. Sowat ’n derde van die wêreld se bouksiet (wat in aluminium gebruik word) word hier aangetref.

’n Hele paar Afrikalande het die afgelope tyd belangstelling getoon in kernkrag as ’n oplossing vir hul kragprobleme. In Junie vanjaar het president Museweni van Oeganda (waar uraan ook onlangs ontdek is) by die G8-byeenkoms klem gelê op die belangrikheid van kernkrag. Suid-Afrika is egter tans die enigste Afrikaland suid van die Sahara waar kernkrag geproduseer word. Op die oomblik maak kernkrag 6% uit van die land se totale kragopwekking en daar word beplan om dit na 15% te verhoog.

In Noord-Afrika het Algerië onlangs ’n kernsamewerkingsooreenkoms met die VSA onderteken. Libië het verlede maand ’n soortgelyke ooreenkoms met Frankryk aangegaan. Abdoulaye Wade van Senegal het op sy beurt aangekondig dat hy voor die einde van sy ampstermyn ’n kernreaktor wil laat bou.

Afrika was sowat 30 jaar gelede die wêreld se belangrikste uitvoerder van uraan. Tans is die vasteland maar vir 20% van totale produksie verantwoordelik. Australië is nou die belangrikste uraanproduseerder ter wêreld.

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We must know what Mbeki said to Sarkozy

Last week I suggested that our president had become jaded. The rapid sequence of the man’s faux pas suggests that he may be wanting a way out, but no one is offering it.

The most common question people ask about Thabo Mbeki is how an obviously intelligent man could adopt such weird positions . How could he mortgage the country and his legacy to people such as Manto Tshabalala-Msimang? But the wheels have been coming off Mbeki’s leadership for a while . We now hear, once again, that Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe could not be bothered with what Mbeki has to say.

But then it’s hard to see these things when you are in the thick of them, and you are tired. The latest controversy involving our president goes beyond our borders, and if true could permanently damage our relationships with the rest of Africa . The row is over a congratulatory letter Mbeki allegedly wrote to French President Nicolas Sarkozy about a speech the latter gave at Cheick Anta Diop University in Senegal.

Apparently, Sarkozy delivered a racist speech about Africa and the history of African people, arguing that colonialism was not a crime against humanity and that it was in fact good for Africa. The French leader is reported to have said: “Africans have never really entered history. They have never really launched themselves into the future. In a world where nature controls everything, man has remained immobile in the middle of an unshakable order where everything is determined. There is no room neither for human endeavour, nor for the idea of progress… the African peasant only knows the renewal of time, rhythmed by the endless repetition of the same gestures and the same words. In this imaginary world where everything starts over and over again, there is no place for human adventure or the idea of progress.” How could the leader of a modern nation utter such ghastly goulash?

Everyone was shocked, and African leaders and intellectuals have made their voices known. So how could our president congratulate Sarkozy? In a letter leaked by the Elysee Palace and published in France’s most prestigious newspaper, Le Monde, Mbeki is reported to have written these words: “What you have said in Dakar, Mr President, has indicated to me that we are fortunate to count you as a citizen of Africa, as a partner in the long struggle for a true African renaissance in the context of a European renaissance and a renaissance of the rest of the world.”

I never thought the African renaissance was taking place within the context of a European renaissance.

Sarkozy is supposed to have reciprocated: “I am deeply touched that you took the time to read that speech. You have been kind enough to highlight the ‘courage and truthfulness’ of this speech. As you very well know, Africa needs truthful friends in order for her to meet the challenges she is facing.”

Now I doubt the veracity of this. I cannot imagine how Mbeki — a man who spent his entire life fighting apartheid and colonialism — would endorse such a racist repudiation of African history and experience. It makes no sense. I sincerely hope the letter attributed to Mbeki is not true and, if true, that he was being sarcastic. We urgently need clarification.

Was the Elysee Palace selectively leaking portions of this letter? Was there anywhere in the letter where Mbeki condemned Sarkozy for his remarks ? Claims that this was private correspondence between Mbeki and Sarkozy will not suffice. Any compromise on colonialism as a crime against humanity would go against everything we fought for and everything the African National Congress (ANC) stood for all those decades.

The only way Mbeki can clear the air is by making the letter public and exposing the Elysee Palace for its dishonesty. If there is any truth to the letter, the ANC should conduct a high-level investigation and Mbeki should apologise to African people everywhere.

On a different matter, that titan of the African and African-American women’s struggles, Angela Davis, will be speaking on Women and Public Leadership at the Wits Senate Room next Thursday at 5.30pm. Gender activist and scholar Nomboniso Gasa will lead the discussion.

Mangcu is executive chairman of the Platform for Public Deliberation, and a visiting scholar at the Public Intellectual Life Project at the University of the Witwatersrand.

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‘Bull’s testicles’

There is no firm indication on how much ratepayer’s cash will be spent on changing eThekwini’s municipality name.

An angry city manager Dr Michael Sutcliffe on Wednesday had harsh words for the media and refused to answer questions over how much a municipal name change will cost ratepayers.

Instead, Sutcliffe labelled the media’s preoccupation with the renaming as "crazy", and said there were no concrete plans for eThekwini to be replaced by the name, Kwa-Khangela.

‘eThekwini refers to the shape of Durban bay comparing it to a bull’s testicles’

The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also refused to speculate on the financial implications.

"At the moment it’s frustrating me that the media are continuing with this before there is any indication of what name we want to pursue," Sutcliffe said.

"It has to go through the process first and when it gets to Exco or council you have a fair indication that it may be adopted."

His position on the Kwa-Khangela change, however, comes a day after Mayor Obed Mlaba threw his weight behind and ANC proposal to move away from the name eThekwini, which was causing some "embarrassment".

Mlaba on Tuesday said he was uncomfortable at explaining to people and international dignitaries that eThekwini refers to the shape of Durban bay comparing it to a bull’s testicles.

‘KwaKhangela is a name of significant military and historic importance to Durban and the region’

Derivatives of eThekwini also refer to a bull with one testicle, but historians and language experts frequently differ on the precise translation.

In fact Mlaba said he was so embarrassed by questions relating to eThekwini’s meaning that he often tried to sidestep the issue.

"You are not proud to unpack what it means," he said.

The Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which has previously been lambasted for its comments on the renaming process, has also refused to speculate on the cost implications to businesses.

CEO Professor Bonke Dumisa referred all media queries to chamber president Themba Ngcobo, who declined to speak on the issue.

"We would only like to confirm anything when there is something definite and there is a firm view that the matter is finalised. We cannot respond to speculation," Ngcobo said.

Council said earlier it would not pay for private sector signage and stationery changes.

Historically speaking, Kwa-Khangela is perhaps one of the most appropriate, and non offensive names suggested thus far.

Consensus is that Zulu King Shaka maintained a military garrison near the present Congella area, and variations aside, KwaKhangela is a name of significant military and historic importance to Durban and the region.

Four Major Banks Borrow From Fed

Four major banks said Wednesday they each borrowed $500 million from the Federal Reserve’s discount window, lending weight to its efforts to restore liquidity to tight markets.

Citigroup Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp. and Wachovia Corp. each stressed they themselves have "substantial liquidity" and the ability to borrow money elsewhere.

In a joint statement, the latter three said they decided to borrow directly from the central bank to demonstrate "the potential value of the Fed’s primary credit facility" and encourage its use by other banks. It was not clear if other banks had also decided to borrow from the Fed.

On Friday, the Fed took the dramatic step of cutting its discount rate on loans to banks, to 5.75 percent from 6.25 percent, in an attempt to alleviate Wall Street’s credit crunch. It also made technical changes to make it easier for banks to get discount loans, including extending the credit period to up to 30 days.

Tapping the discount window had previously been seen as a last resort for banks in trouble, a perception the Fed sought to eliminate.

Citigroup was the first to announce its decision to borrow the money, "on behalf of its clients" at Citibank.

"Citi is pleased to inject liquidity into the financial system during times of market stress and to support creditworthy clients," the company said. "Citibank stands ready to continue to access the discount window as client needs and market conditions warrant."

It was followed minutes later by the three other banks.

"The companies believe it is important at this time to take a leadership role in demonstrating the potential value of the Fed’s primary credit facility and to encourage its use by other financial institutions," their statement said. The three added that they hoped their actions would "promote broad acceptance of the use of the facility."

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R2,6 miljoen vir politici se veiligheid

Playfair Morule

Belastingsbetalers moes sowat R2,6 miljoen hoes vir veiligheidsmaatreëls by die private wonings van vier Vrystaatse provinsiale ministers, het die Demokratiese Alliansie (DA) Maandag bekendgemaak. Die party se Vrystaatse leier, Roy Jankielsohn, meen die bedrag is buitensporig en dat die ANC-ministers moet verduidelik waarvoor hulle so bang is.

“Verder behoort veiligheid nie ’n probleem vir die ANC se verteenwoordigers te wees nie, want die nasionale minister van veiligheid (Charles Nqakula) beskou misdaad mos as onder beheer,” het Jankielsohn gesê. Volgens hom is nagenoeg R728 000 spandeer om veiligheid by die huis van die plaaslike minister van openbare werke, paaie en vervoer te verbeter.

Neo Masithela, minister van toerisme, omgewingsake en ekonomiese aangeleenthede, het R730 000 se verbeteringe ontvang, terwyl die huis van die voormalige minister vir veilligheid, Playfair Morule, teen die bedrag van R728 000 beveilig is. ’n Verdere bedrag van R495 000 is uitgegee op die huis van Susan Mnumzana, die plaaslike minister van landbou.

Veiligheidsmaatreëls het die oprigting van hoë mure, die installering van elektroniese heinings bo-op mure, veiligheidskameras, spesiale beligting, alarmstelsels en veiligheidshekke ingesluit. Jankielsohn meen die regering se belangrikste taak is om sy burgers te beskerm en nie net politici nie.

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