SOUTH AFRICA

I know you are probably tired of hearing about the xenophobic attacks here, but I thought you might like to read something from NPR. My friend Alex (environmental scientist/policy, international development man of mystery extraordinaire) sent it to me. It’s part of a 6-part series, though I haven’t seen the other 5 parts. Maybe you can search for them. Alex also won a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship (like Jeannie and Haley) and will start his assignment at UCT in Cape Town in January. The article is below.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91313055

We’ve also just recently designated Chinese people as black. No, this is not because they know how to get down or are Afrophiles or any other stereotype. This is because they have fought for equal rights and equal affirmative action under the law as is given to blacks and they have finally won.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7461099.stm

Other than that, things are mainly the same. People still complain about gas prices and food prices whose hike they are blaming on biofuels for decreasing the food supply. That is possible I guess in a global sense. I know biofuels are not big here at all.

I think the two biggest things here now are a court case with Judge Pikoli. He is was charged with obstructing justice by collecting intelligence and handling matters that should have been reported or handed over to the justice department and not kept in the National Prosecuting Authority. They are saying he is not fit to hold office citing a breakdown in his relationship with the Justice Minister. He says he’s only being prosecuting because he was pursuing charges against Jack Selebi, the Police Commissioner and alleged friend of Mbeki.

The other big news is that the head of the ANC Youth League said that the youth league would kill for Jacob Zuma. The country has been going crazy over the comments. People have asked him to retract it but he won’t. I don’t think it will incite people to arms when Zuma becomes president but that’s the question it raises. And many say such comments have no place in post-apartheid South Africa especially with the history here.