Tag: SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa relaxes visa rules for Nigerians

Aminu Imam
S'Africa relaxes visa rules

President Cyril Ramaphosa, of South Africa, has announced that tourists from Nigeria can now apply for a visa without submitting a passport. Ramaphosa revealed this yesterday, at the opening of the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) in Cape Town, which President Bola Tinubu attended. He said South Africa has simplified its visa processes to facilitate travel for Nigerian business people and tourists, with measures such as five-year multiple entry visas. “Our efforts to create a favourable environment include our simplified visa process for Nigerian business people…

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Just In! Israel-Hamas war: South Africa withdraws diplomats from Israel, cites ‘genocide’ in Gaza

Aminu Imam

The South African government said on Monday it would recall all its diplomats from Israel to “signal” its concern over the situation in Gaza. A minister in the president’s office, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, told a press briefing: “The South African government has decided to withdraw all its diplomats in Tel Aviv for consultation,” South Africa’s decision comes as Israeli forces pushed on with intense strikes targeting Palestinian militants in Gaza with the war nearing one month and the Hamas-run health ministry’s death toll approached 10,000 inside the besieged territory. Determined to…

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FG issues security warning to Nigerians in S/Africa

Aminu Imam

The Nigeria High Commission in South Africa has warned Nigerians living there to be vigilant and exercise caution in their day-to-day activities. The High Commission gave the security warning following a threat by the proponents of ‘Operation Dudul’ to attack foreign nationals in the country. In an issued press statement yesterday, titled: ‘Advisory to Nigerians in South Africa’, the Consular section in Pretoria said the group made the threat through a public notice and video clips which circulated on social media. The statement noted that the group had informed of…

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FG inaugurates task force to revamp TV, Radio advertising market

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The Federal Government on Tuesday in Abuja inaugurated a task force to bring the under-performing Nigeria TV and radio advertising market to higher productivity. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who inaugurated the 15-member Audience Measurement Implementation Task Force, said it could result in additional $400 million revenue or more in the industry in the next three years. He reiterated that the absence of a scientific audience measurement system had resulted in under-development in the broadcast and advertising industries and stunted their growth. “Nigeria’s broadcast advertising market…

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Obasanjo mourns Desmond Tutu, praises his contribution to Nigeria’s debt cancellation

Aminu Imam

…’The world is different because of him’ — Archbishop of Canterbury Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday mourned the Late anti-apartheid scion, pro-democracy guru and human rights crusader, the Late Desmond Tutu, who died earlier yesterday, aged 90. Obasanjo, in a condolence letter to the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday, recalled the role played by the Late Tutu in getting the country’s debt cancelled, declaring that his death was a personal loss to him. He stated that “Over the years, Reverend Tutu had shown focused, credible, bold, sensitive…

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From France, Buhari departs Paris for intra-African Trade Fair in South Africa

Aminu Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari has departed Paris for Durban, South Africa, to attend the 2nd Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2021 which is scheduled to take place on Monday. Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, who confirmed the president’s trip to South Africa, said he would join other African leaders at the Official Opening Ceremony of the IATF 2021 at a special invitation by President Cyril Ramaphosa. According to Adesina, Buhari would be accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo,…

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Bishop Desmond Tutu, South Africa’s campaigner has died at 90

Aminu Imam

South Africa’s famous anti-apartheid campaigner, Bishop Desmond Tutu, has died at the age of 90.The Bishop of Johannesburg, Stephen Moreo,  announced this via his official Twitter handle yesterday. Moreo’s account stated: “Attention: The Anglican Diocese of Johannesburg receives now the sad news of the death of our dearest Archbishop Desmond Tutu. “The Most Reverend Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu dies at 90. Official note to be released soon.”Tutu was renowned for his work as an anti-apartheid and human rights activist. Between 1985 to 1986 he was the Bishop of Johannesburg and then the…

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Jailed former South African president, Jacob Zuma, granted medical parole

Aminu Imam

Convicted former South African president, Jacob Zuma, was yesterday placed on medical parole on the grounds of his failing health, the country’s correctional services department has said. Zuma, 79, has been jailed since July after the constitutional court sentenced him to 15 months in prison having been found guilty of contempt of court for failing to appear before a corruption probe panel despite repeated court orders. The correctional service said yesterday that Zuma’s eligibility for medical parole follows a medical report it received about the former leader’s hospital admittance. “Medical…

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Again South Africa court postpones Zuma corruption trial to Sept. 9

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

A South African court on Tuesday postponed a long-delayed corruption trial against former president Jacob Zuma to Sept. 9, following his hospitalisation. High Court Judge Piet Koen granted the postponement and also ordered Zuma’s team to produce a medical report by Aug. 20, and for the state to appoint a medical doctor to assess whether Zuma was fit to stand trial. Zuma’s sentence in July on a separate contempt of court matter led to a wave of looting and unrest. He was expected to appear at the Pietermaritzburg High Court…

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Covid-19: FG bans travellers from South Africa

Aminu Imam

The Presidential Steering Committee, (PSC) on the Covid-19 pandemic has added South Africa to the list of countries from where travellers are banned because of the rampant rising cases in the country. The Chairman of PSC and Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, disclosed this during yesterday’s media briefing of the committee in Abuja. Recall that the government had in May slammed a similar ban on travellers from India, Brazil and Turkey over similar concerns. He said: “The PSC has been reviewing these restrictions and is of…

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