South Africa

By Uzair Adam

President Bola Tinubu will depart France on Monday for Cape Town, South Africa, to co-chair the 11th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) with President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The commission, set to convene on December 3, will be preceded by a ministerial meeting on December 2 at the South African Parliament Building in Cape Town.

According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu and Ramaphosa will discuss bilateral, regional, and international matters of mutual interest.

Building on their June 20 discussions in Johannesburg, the two leaders will assess progress since the 10th BNC session held in Abuja from November 29 to December 1, 2021.

“The 11th session of the BNC will feature discussions across eight working groups, focusing on political consultations, consular and migration, banking and finance, defence and security, manufacturing, social sector, mines and energy, and trade and investments,” the statement added.

During the high-level meeting, both nations will sign several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements aimed at enhancing cooperation.

Established in 1999, the BNC serves as a platform to strengthen diplomatic, economic, and security ties between Nigeria and South Africa. The inaugural Heads of State meeting took place in October 2019 in Pretoria.

This year’s session marks the 25th anniversary of the Commission, underscoring the longstanding partnership between the two nations.

President Tinubu will be accompanied by state governors, ministers, and senior government officials.

By Sabiu Abdullahi  

The Super Eagles of Nigeria soared to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final, edging out the resilient Bafana Bafana of South Africa in a tense penalty shootout.

The match, which culminated in a one-all draw through regular play and extra time, showcased the grit and determination of both sides. 

The encounter marked the Super Eagles’ record 15th appearance in the AFCON semi-finals, a testament to their enduring legacy in African football.

However, it was far from an easy feat, as the match pushed them to their limits. 

Nigeria’s journey to the final was fraught with challenges, including last-minute fitness concerns.

Star striker Victor Osimhen overcame abdominal discomfort to lead the line, while a late injury forced coach Jose Peseiro to shuffle his starting lineup, with Bright Osayi-Samuel stepping in for the injured Zaidu Sanusi. 

The tactical battle unfolded with Nigeria opting for a 3-4-3 formation, mirrored by Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana. However, the Eagles initially struggled to contain the pace and positional awareness of South Africa’s attacking duo, Percy Tau and Evidence Makgopa. 

Despite the early setbacks, Nigeria showcased resilience and determination, gradually asserting control as the match progressed.

The defensive trio of William Troost-Ekong, Semi Ajayi, and Calvin Bassey weathered the storm, thwarting numerous attempts from the South African side.

As the tension mounted, neither team could find the breakthrough, leading to a nail-biting penalty shootout. In a display of nerves of steel, the Super Eagles held their composure, clinching a thrilling 4-2 victory from the spot, much to the delight of their passionate supporters. 

With this hard-fought triumph, Nigeria secures a spot in the AFCON final, poised to vie for continental glory against a formidable opposition.

By Muhammad Sabiu

Following a horrific attack on foreigners by criminals, the Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA) confirmed the death of another Nigerian, Nicholas John, in South Africa on Thursday.

Mr. Collins Mgbo, the President of NUSA, disclosed John’s death in a statement to NAN on Thursday.

On February 12, a mob allegedly attacked John, an Ogun State native, at his shop in Kimberly, Northern Cape, South Africa.

Many young Nigerians who immigrated to South Africa to find work have continued to perish.

According to NAN, at least 128 Nigerians have been slain in the erstwhile Rainbow Nation since the beginning of 2019.

On December 12, 2021, a man named Olusola Solarin died after hoodlums attacked him and stole his money.

Mgbo revealed that John’s South African wife had just been married for three months.

On the circumstances surrounding Nicholas’ death on Tuesday, the NUSA president stated that a South African gang assaulted him on February 11 for allegedly purchasing a stolen laptop.

South African problem is the exact replica of black man’s disease. It is the reason why black Africa will never develop. Look at North Africa; Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria, they have infrastructure, mostly at par with Europe, some are even better than most European countries. They are not blacks. The Arabs, even with their deadly problems, are far ahead of blacks in terms of development. There is no black African success story as far as nation building is concerned. Some people mention Rwanda as a success story. I don’t know their standard of success. To me a country with no rail system, which has only seven 7 tiny airports, running an agrarian economy and presided by dictator, is not a success story. South Africa was built by the Whites. Zimbabwe had a wonderful headway until Mugabe chased away the whites and handed over the economy to blacks. But look at UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. They are developed peaceful societies with law and order per excellence.

The 79 years Jacob Zuma of South Africa was sentenced to prison to spend 15 months for refusing a constitutional court order to give evidence, at an inquiry investigating a high-level corruption during his nine years in office. Zuma is facing trial for corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering. What followed was total disgrace to Africa and black race. South African blacks and Zuma’s Zulu tribe went into violent protest in major cities of Natal, Durban, Johannesburg and other major provinces. They broke shops and looted the contents and set buildings ablaze. In the melee that followed, at least 79 people died with figures still counting.

Who, but African blacks, will go into riots to protest imprisonment of a corrupt leader on account of ethnicity only! The South Africans are not rioting because Zuma is innocent. They just don’t want him to be jailed no matter his crimes. Zuma defied court order. In any civilized society, defying court is tantamount to sleeping in prison. But see South Africa, arguably the most developed country in Africa, having the best infrastructure, best schools, functioning economy and a member of G-20, disgracing Africa, Africans and all blacks.

What kind of country do South Africans want if a leader can wreck the treasury and be above the law? Even with our myriads of problems I don’t see Nigerians behaving this way. Obasanjo was a former leader imprisoned for offences he did not commit but no one razed any shop or burnt down cities. Leaders will always have supporters but when they commit crimes, we should not give them ethnic refuge and fight their own battles. We should allow them to stew in the pot they arranged for themselves. That is the only way they will do the right thing in offices. As long as we allow them to commit crimes and run to ethnic and religious cleavages for protection, we will never develop as a country.

Alhaji Aliyu Nuhu

Is a social analyst based in Abuja