TheNewsGuru

Tag: South Africa

  • BREAKING: Super Falcons through to WAFCON final

    BREAKING: Super Falcons through to WAFCON final

    The Super Falcons of Nigeria have qualified for the final of the Women African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) holding in Morocco.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Super Falcons qualified for the WAFCON final after defeating the Bayana Bayana of South Africa on Tuesday.

    The Nigerian national female football team defeated their South African counterparts by 2 goals to 1.

    Rasheedat Ajibade opened the scoring in the first half with a penalty kick at 44 minutes.

    Following the break, Linda Mothlalo converted from the spot to bring Banyana Bayana level at 59 minutes.

    Then, in dramatic injury time, Michelle Alozie delivered the knockout punch.

    Alozie sent a long ball forward in the 90+4 minute of play and it ended up in the back of the net.

  • Donald Trump, whitewashing apartheid history – By Hamilton Odunze

    Donald Trump, whitewashing apartheid history – By Hamilton Odunze

    By Hamilton Odunze

    In a blatant attempt to whitewash the history of apartheid in South Africa, Donald Trump accused South Africa of genocide against white South Africans. Therefore, he sent a private plane to bring fifty-nine white South Africans for resettlement in the United States.

    Trump’s claim that this was to correct the ‘egregious’ actions of the Republic of South Africa is a gross misrepresentation of the truth. His empowerment of this action with Executive Order 14202 is an apparent injustice that we cannot allow to go unchallenged. Allowing it to happen without a challenge is an affront to the years of the fight against apartheid and Nelson Mandela’s legacy.

    Here is what Trump did. On February 7, 2025, he signed Executive Order 14202. According to Trump, the executive order attempts to address the “egregious” actions of the Republic of South Africa. In section one, he states that the South African government disregards its citizens’ rights. Trump claims that the South African government created the Expropriation Act 13 to enable it to seize ethnic minority Afrikaners’ agricultural property without compensation.

    Donald Trump’s interpretation of the Expropriation Act 13 is fundamentally flawed. In January 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the Act into law after a protracted debate in the South African House. This Act, like similar laws in many other countries, including the United States, allows the government to take land for public use.

    The Expropriation Act 13 in South Africa is a fair and just law. It enables the government to seize land from any private owner, regardless of color, for public purposes and interests. The law provides fair compensation, but the government can also seize land without compensation. In support of the Act, the African National Congress (ANC) defended it as necessary to correct past injustices of the apartheid years.

    If we go back to 1975, in the thick of apartheid, the South African House passed the first Expropriation Act. When apartheid ended in 1994, white South Africans owned 85 percent of the arable land in South Africa. Today, they own 72 percent of agricultural land despite being only 7.3 percent of the population. The ANC argues that this is part of the past injustices that the new Expropriation Act urgently seeks to correct. So, when Donald Trump says that the government is confiscating agricultural property from white South Africans, he is being disingenuous.

    In the same Executive Order 14202, Donald Trump stated that South Africa has aggressively opposed the United States and its allies. He said that South Africa accused Israel of genocide instead of holding Hamas accountable for the attack that killed 1,200 and took another 252 Israelis hostage. On October 7, 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian militants attacked Southern Israel in the first invasion of the Israeli territory since the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. South Africa and the rest of the world swiftly and justly condemned the attack on Israel.

    It has been more than a year, and the war in Gaza rages. According to the Gaza Health Ministry and other sources, the number of Palestinians killed since October 7, 2023, has exceeded 50,000. The conflict has also displaced more than 1.9 million people in Gaza. In response, the South African government sued Israel at the International Court of Justice to order Israel to stop the assault on Rafah. In the lawsuit, the South African government alleged that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

    Trump said that the lawsuit is against the interests of the United States and its allies. Therefore, he wants South Africa to pay for its “egregious” actions. What he missed is what prompted South Africa to go to court on behalf of Palestinians in Gaza. In bringing the lawsuit, South Africa says, as a signatory to the UN’s 1948 genocide convention, it must act. It also sees a similarity between the struggles of Palestinians in Gaza and the fight against apartheid.

    “As a people who once tasted the bitter fruits of dispossession, discrimination, racism, and state-sponsored violence, we are clear that we will stand on the right side of history,” says Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa.

    In a recent visit to the White House, Ramaphosa said that there is no genocide in South Africa. Yet, Trump doubled his claim and presented videos and news articles as proof. The problem is that many of the videos and news articles he presented are from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the real genocide is happening. Since 1996, more than 6 million people have died in Congo, millions more have been displaced, and the world has looked the other way.

    If Trump is passionate about fighting genocide, Congo would have been a good starting point. He passed on Congo because the impacted people do not fit the profile of what he considers real human beings. To understand why Trump flew in fifty-nine white South Africans in a private plane for resettlement in the United States, you must look at the politics of it.

    During his campaign, he told Americans that he would rid the country of illegal immigrants. Trump, without evidence, accused countries of sending their criminals to the United States. He specifically said that Congo had opened its prisons and allowed its criminals to come into the United States. Since his second term, Trump has deported thousands of immigrants from Latin America and Africa, even students with legal status.

    But he is willing to replace them with white South Africans, who are some of the privileged in Africa. Trump had accused Democrats of relying on immigrants’ votes to win elections. In his mind, deporting immigrants from Africa and Latin America is a strategy to reduce votes for Democrats. Back in his first term, in January 2018, in a White House meeting on immigration reform, Trump asked, “Why are we having these people from shithole countries come here.”

    He is consistent with his dislike for people who are not white. While running for the second time, at a dinner party in Mar-a-Lago, Trump bemoaned the lack of immigrants from Denmark, Switzerland, and other places he refers to as “nice” countries, who are primarily white. The problem for Trump is that citizens of Denmark and Switzerland are not as destitute as Africans. Therefore, they are less likely to move to the United States on a whim. Otherwise, Trump will bring them in droves to the United States.

    Trump’s willingness to bring white South Africans for resettlement in the United States has nothing to do with genocide; it has to do with race, politics, and the MAGA agenda. Do not be deceived. There is nothing ideological about Trump’s immigration policy. He may try to rewrite the history of apartheid in South Africa, but we will not let him get away without a challenge.

    Hamilton Odunze

    Lean In

  • S/Africa crowned U-20 AFCON champions after historic win

    S/Africa crowned U-20 AFCON champions after historic win

    South Africa won their maiden CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Morocco in Sunday night’s final at the June 30 Stadium in Cairo.

    Gomolemo Kekana’s stunning second-half strike proved decisive, as the, Southern Africans claimed the trophy and rewrote history by overcoming a North African opponent in the tournament for the first time.

    The only goal of the final came in the 70th minute when Kekana unleashed a powerful right-footed effort from outside the box, bending the ball into the top corner.

    The goal, awarded after a VAR review, broke the deadlock in a tense contest dominated by tactical discipline and defensive organisation.

    Kekana’s goal capped a superb tournament for South Africa, who had never reached a U-20 AFCON final since 1997, when they lost to Morocco.

    This time, they flipped the script, avenging that defeat to lift the trophy and become the 12th different nation to win the title.

    Both sides entered the final unbeaten, boasting some of the tournament’s best defensive records.

    Morocco, the more fluid side in the first half, created better chances through Jones El Abdellaoui and Ilias Boumassaoudi, but South African goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe was once again in inspired form.

    South Africa, who had grown into the competition after losing their opener to Egypt, showed resilience and patience.

    Shakeel April and Mfundo Vilakazi had half chances, but neither side managed to find the net before the break.

    The second half opened up with Morocco pushing forward, with Othmane Maamma and Abdelhamid Aït Boudlal coming close.

    However, the North Africans were wasteful in front of goal, and South Africa’s high pressing eventually paid dividends.

    After Kekana’s wonder goal, South Africa soaked up pressure with commendable discipline.

    Morocco threw men forward in search of an equaliser, but South Africa’s backline — led by Tylon Smith and Sfiso Timba — held firm.

    South Africa’s victory marks their first-ever youth continental triumph and adds them to a growing list of recent debut winners, following Senegal’s 2023 success.

    It also broke their jinx against North African opposition, ending a run of five previous defeats — all by a single goal margin.

    Fletcher Lowe ended the tournament with the most saves (24), underlining South Africa’s defensive resolve.

    Kekana’s goal was only their ninth of the campaign, but every strike proved crucial as they edged past DR Congo, Nigeria and now Morocco in the knockout rounds.

    For Morocco, the defeat marks a missed opportunity to win a second title. They came into the final unbeaten in 14 U-20 AFCON matches in open play.

    But Sunday’s loss — their first defeat of the tournament — was a bitter blow.

    Despite impressive performances throughout the tournament, their wait for a second crown continues.

  • U-20 AFCON: S/Africa defeat Nigeria to reach final with Smith’s header

    U-20 AFCON: S/Africa defeat Nigeria to reach final with Smith’s header

    Nigeria on Thursday lost by a lone goal to South Africa in a tense semi-final clash at the Suez Canal Stadium in Egypt

    The result meant South Africa booked a place in the final of the CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Egypt 2025.

    A well-taken header by Tylon Smith in the 66th minute proved decisive in a fiercely contested match between two of Africa’s traditional football powerhouses.

    NAN reports that the result also ends the Flying Eagles’ hopes of winning a record-extending eighth U-20 AFCON title.

    Nigeria, dominant for large spells in the second half, were made to rue missed opportunities, particularly in the final moments.

    This was after South African goalkeeper Fletcher Lowe produced a string of saves to deny Emmanuel Chukwu and Israel Ayuma.

    The match began cautiously, with both sides probing without creating clear-cut chances.

    Nigeria’s Tahir Maigana and South Africa’s Kutlwano Letlhaku both had early efforts saved in a first half that ended goalless despite Nigeria’s superior attacking numbers.

    The breakthrough, however, came just after the hour mark.

    Neo Rapoo whipped in a corner from the right, and Smith rose highest to power home a header into the centre of the goal.

    It was Smith’s first of the tournament and arguably the most important yet for the Amajita.

    Nigeria responded with urgency, making double substitutions in the 65th minute to inject pace and fresh energy into the attack.

    Rickson Mendos and Bidemi Amole nearly made instant impacts, with both going close in a series of intense late assaults on the South African goal.

    Ayuma had two excellent chances to level, including a diving header that was brilliantly saved by Lowe.

    But South Africa’s resolute defending and composed midfield play saw them through, stretching their unbeaten run at the Suez Canal Stadium to four games.

    The win sees South Africa reach their second U-20 AFCON final, their first since 1997 when they finished as runners-up.

    For Nigeria, it marks a third consecutive semi-final defeat in the tournament, having previously fallen to Gambia (2023) and Mali (2019).

    South Africa’s run to the final has been built on solid defence and efficiency in front of goal.

    Thursday’s win also means they will head into the final with momentum, having now gone five matches unbeaten — their longest such streak in U-20 AFCON history.

    With qualification to the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup already secured, the Amajita will now turn their attention to winning their first continental title.

  • NUSA condemns another attack on 7 Nigerians in South Africa

    NUSA condemns another attack on 7 Nigerians in South Africa

    The Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA) has condemned another brutal attack on seven Nigerians and the kidnapping of one Ani Silas on Thursday in Springs, Gauteng Province.

    Akindele Olunloyo, the National Publicity Secretary of NUSA, said in a statement on Sunday that Silas was beaten unconscious and forcibly taken from his workplace by a member of staff of a television station.

    The statement said the assailant was accompanied by his media team, private security personnel and members of the South African Police Services (SAPS) Crime Prevention Unit attached to the Springs SAPS Station.

    ” Numerous onlookers witnessed the unprovoked attack and abduction, and NUSA has obtained video
    evidence showing SAPS officers standing by while this heinous act was committed,” NUSA said.

    It said the behaviour by law enforcement officials represented a severe dereliction of duty and suggested potential complicity in what constituted multiple criminal offences under South African law.

    “Despite extensive searches of morgues, hospitals, and police stations throughout Gauteng Province, Mr Silas remains missing.

    “A formal kidnapping case (Case Number: 508/4/2025) has been registered at the Springs SAPS station.

    “NUSA leadership has been informed that the matter has been transferred to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID),” it said.

    The apex body of Nigerians in South Africa demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Silas on Tuesday at 12 noon.

    The group also asked for full accountability for all those involved in his assault and abduction, including the
    immediate arrest and suspension of the SAPS officers who failed to prevent the alleged attack.

    It further demanded a formal investigation and arrest of the assailant and accomplices for their recurring pattern of violent xenophobic attacks against Nigerian nationals.

    NUSA also demanded public assurance from the South African authorities that the rights of all foreign nationals will be protected as guaranteed by the South African Constitution and international human rights conventions.

    The statement reminded all parties involved that South African law explicitly prohibited acts of torture, assault, and kidnapping under the Prevention and Combating of Torture of Persons Act 13 of 2013.

    It qouted NUSA President, Smart Nwobi, as calling on all Nigerians in South Africa to remain vigilant and peaceful during this critical time.

    “We are in communication with the Nigerian government’s foreign Missions in South Africa, international human rights organisations and the African Union regarding this grave matter,” Nwobi said.

    He said should the demands of NUSA not be met by the specified deadline, the Nigerian community in Springs had resolved to peacefully occupy the Springs police station.

    Nwobi added that the union would pursue all available legal avenues to secure justice for Silas and other victims of the attack.

  • International Friendly: South Africa hammer Malawi 3-0

    International Friendly: South Africa hammer Malawi 3-0

    South Africa’s women’s national team secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Malawi in an international friendly match, showcasing their quality and teamwork on the pitch.

    The standout performer of the match was Nonhlanha Mthandi, who netted a brilliant brace and was instrumental in controlling the tempo of the game. Linda Motlhalo also got on the scoresheet, adding a third to seal a confident win for Banyana Banyana.

    The friendly fixture offered valuable match experience and tactical preparation as both teams continue to build towards future competitive engagements..

  • Court clears Nigerian pastor, Tim Omotoso of all rape charges

    Court clears Nigerian pastor, Tim Omotoso of all rape charges

    The Eastern Cape High Court in Gqeberha South Africa, has acquitted 66 year old Tim Omotoso, a Nigerian televangelist and senior pastor of Jesus Dominion International (JDI) church in South Africa of all charges of rape.

    This was revealed during a court ruling by Judge Irma Schoeman, on Wednesday, April 2.

    TheNewsGuru reports Omotoso, had faced 32 charges, including se+ual exploitation and human trafficking.

    Omotoso was arrested in 2017 amid accusations that he handpicked young women from his congregation and coerced them into se+ual acts under the guise of spiritual guidance.

    Some of the women who testified against him were members of a gospel music group he had founded called Grace Galaxy, while others were still in school at the time of the alleged incidents.

    The prosecution argued that Omotoso had used his religious influence to exploit vulnerable women, often praying for forgiveness after each encounter.

    However, the defence maintained that the allegations were baseless and lacked concrete evidence.

    Giving her judgment, Schoeman noted that the women who testified against Omotoso claimed that they were selected by the pastor, who would pray for forgiveness after each encounter with them.

    Some of the women had been members of a gospel girl group called Grace Galaxy, formed by the pastor, while others were still in school.

    Schoeman stated that although the pastor’s explanations seemed unlikely, the state prosecutors failed to prove their case against him and two of his assistants, who also faced charges, beyond a reasonable doubt.

    She said, “The accused are found not guilty and are discharged on all the charges.”

    He will be deported to Nigeria immediately.

  • Applause as Bolanle Austen-Peters’ ‘Dear Kaffy’ tours South Africa

    Applause as Bolanle Austen-Peters’ ‘Dear Kaffy’ tours South Africa

    There is palpable excitement and applause from thespians and theatre goers as ‘Dear Kaffi’, the popular play directed by Bolanle Austen-Peters continues its tour of South Africa.

    With its rich Nigerian cast, the play had opened to critical acclaim in Pretoria on February 27th.

    The tour is at the invitation of the South African State Theatre, whose partnership with Bolanle Austen-Peters Productions is promoting a two-week tour of the play across several theatres in South Africa.

    “We are using this collaboration to bridge cultural gaps,” says Mrs Austen-Peters, who is leading the cast and crew of the outstanding play as director cum producer.

    According to the multi-talented lawyer turned theatre producer and film director, “the reception was electrifying”, adding that the tour will be “two weeks of extreme excellence on stage.”

    The opening night was sold out and had dignitaries that included the Acting Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, His Excellency, Temitope Ajayi; the Chief Executive Officer of the South African State Theatre, Sibongiseni Mkhize and the Artistic Director of the South African State Theatre, Aubrey Sekhat.

    This is the second time that BAP Productions will tour South Africa. In 2022, Saro The Musical also toured select South African theatres.
    About a dozen performances of Dear Kaffi are slated to thrill the audience, with at least one show being staged per day since Saturday March 1. The tour is expected to reach a crescendo from Thursday March 6th all through the weekend, with the grand finale slated for Sunday March 9.

    Dear Kaffy – Kike’s Story is a captivating tale of a 35-year-old single woman, Kikelomo Olota, who is navigating life, love, and societal expectations in Lagos.

    From her teenage years, Kike’s brilliance in academics had earned her admiration, but her lack of romantic relationships set her apart.
    Determined to fit in, she traded her smartness for popularity, only to find herself entangled in a series of tumultuous relationships.

    From Femi, a charming but deceitful lover, to Emeka, a seemingly perfect man who turned out to be married, Kike’s journey is filled with heartbreak and lessons that shape her perspective on love and self-worth.

    Amid growing pressure from her family, especially her father, Kike is introduced to Debo, a suitor with whom she shares an unexpected connection. However, her past returns in the form of Tamuno, an ex-boyfriend whose presence threatens her budding relationship with Debo.

    As Kike struggles to reconcile her desires with societal expectations, she is forced to confront her insecurities, redefine her values, and decide what truly matters.

    With humour, music, and a sharp critique of cultural norms, Dear Kaffy is a vibrant exploration of love, identity, and the pursuit of authenticity in the face of overwhelming pressure.

    The Nigerian cast of the play in South Africa include

    Uzo Osimkpa, who plays the lead role of Kike;
    Yewande Osamein (Tolani),
    Abiola Lepe (Bidemi),
    Sharon Onyegbula (Shalewa) and
    Ralph Okoro (Tamuno).
    Others are: Hector Amiwero (Debo), Obiora Maduegbuna (Debo),
    Floyd Igbo (Femi),
    Bimbo manuel who plays the role of Father, and

    Bukola Ogunnote who plays the role of Mother.

    Dear Kaffi had a successful premiere in Nigeria at the maiden edition of the Lagos International Theatre Festival (LITF) in November 2024.
    The play also returned to the Terra Kulture stage during the yuletide season last year.

    With the current South African tour, ‘Dear Kaffi’ has become Bolanle Austen-Peters’ latest play to earn international accolades, following in the footsteps of Saro The Musical, Wakaa The Musical and Fela & The Kalakuta Queens, which have been performed in London, United Kingdom; Cairo, Egypt and Johanesburg, South Africa at different times.

  • South Africa breaks silence on Chidimma Adetshina’s mother arrest

    South Africa breaks silence on Chidimma Adetshina’s mother arrest

    South African authorities on Monday confirmed the arrest of Anabela Rungo, mother of Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, Chidimma Adetshina, over alleged immigration violations.

     Siya Qoza, the Home Affairs spokesperson stated that Rungo was arrested in Cape Town over the weekend during a joint operation with the South African Police Service (SAPS).

    He further stated that its officials revoked Rungo’s residency documentation in September 2024 after they discovered it had been fraudulently obtained.

    “Investigators from the department, assisted by SAPS, detained Anabela Rungo at a property in Cape Town. Her documents were found to be fraudulent, rendering her ineligible to remain in South Africa,” Qoza stated.

    Qoza added that Rungo continued to reside in the country using her Mozambican passport despite being declared ‘undesirable.’

    “Rungo’s continued presence violates immigration laws, and she is also under investigation by the Hawks for potential misrepresentation and fraud,” he added.

    Immigration lawyer, Ashraf Essop, told eNCA that Rungo may face deportation.

    “Once your documents are invalidated, you either leave voluntarily or face detention and deportation,” Essop explained.

    Rungo’s legal troubles follow scrutiny after her daughter, Adetshina, was disqualified from the Miss South Africa pageant due to citizenship issues. Adetshina later won Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 and finished as first runner-up at Miss Universe 2024.

  • President of Nigerian association in South Africa, says another d3ath in police custody fast becoming unbearable

    President of Nigerian association in South Africa, says another d3ath in police custody fast becoming unbearable

    The Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA) has condemned the death of a 40-year-old Nigerian citizen, Benjamin Okoli, while in police custody.

    Okoli’s death comes barely a month after NICASA condemned the alleged killing of another Nigerian, 50-year-old Jeremiah Okoye, who died in police custody on January 13.

    NICASA President-General, Dr Frank Onyekwelu, described the curious deaths of Nigerians in South Africa as unbearable during a midnight telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

    Okoli, from Akpu in Orumba South, Anambra, is survived by his wife and child.

    “The Nigerian community in South Africa is mourning yet another loss in police custody.

    “Okoli was stopped, searched by police officers, and taken to his house with his brother for further inspection.

    “In spite of finding nothing, the officers tortured, beat, and brutalised them. Okoli couldn’t withstand the assault and fell into a coma,” Onyekwelu said.

    “His brother’s attempts to revive him failed while the police stood by and watched as Okoli’s life slipped away. Paramedics later pronounced him dead,” he added.

    He noted that investigations into Okoye’s death were still ongoing when Okoli died in similar circumstances, allegedly at the hands of the same police unit.

    “This is the same group of officers accused of killing Okoye. Now, two Nigerians have died in police custody in less than a month,” Onyekwelu stated.

    According to him, NICASA leaders in Limpopo are struggling to come to terms with the disturbing trend, which is increasingly targeting Nigerians in the province.

    “We call on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to ensure the officers responsible for these gruesome deaths are brought to justice,” he urged.

    NICASA has informed the Nigerian Missions in Pretoria and Johannesburg about these disturbing incidents. The organisation hopes the killings will stop.

    “We appeal to our nationals to remain calm, law-abiding, and continue their daily activities peacefully,” Onyekwelu prayed