The Bafana Bafana of South Africa played out a goalless draw away to Seychelles in their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Group E clash at the Stade Linite on Tuesday.
Bafana Bafana were made to bemoan their missed opportunities after they failed to secure maximum points against bottom-placed Seychelles.
It was the second time Bafana were held to a goalless draw in four games in group E. The first was in their home match against Libya.
The Bafana Bafana who outclassed Seychelles in the first leg tie 6-0 at the FNB Stadium Johannesburg had their first real chance in the 9th minute when Dino Ndlovu managed to head a cross back across the face of goal only for the ball to evade Lebo Mothiba.
The Bafana Bafana continued to dominate and created more chances in the 26th and 28th minutes through the Percy Tau and Lebo Mothiba, but their efforts were saved by the Seychelles goalkeeper Jerome Dingwall.
Ndlovu also carved out another chance in the 31st minute, but his shot was deflected wide.
South Africa enjoyed a lion’s share of the possession at the start of the second half, dominating play. And it was Mothiba again who hit the crossbar two minutes after the restart as the the Ephraim Mashaba’s men mounted more pressure to score.
They finally found the back of the net in the 54th minute after Dingwall was beaten from close range, but the referee ruled it eout for offside.
Another chance followed in the 68th minute but this time Modiba could only scuff his shot wide of the posts.
South Africa, who gained one point from the fixture maintain their lead at the top of Group E with eight points.
The other fixture in the group will see Libya take on Nigeria in Sfax Tunisia tonight.
Tag: South Africa
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AFCON qualifiers: Seychelles hold South Africa to goalless draw
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Court grants bail to eight South African police officers accused of murdering Nigerian
The eight South African police officers arrested in connection with brutal murder of a Nigerian in 2017 have been released on bail by that country’s Magistrate Court.
Adetola Olubajo, President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa (NUSA), confirmed the latest development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on telephone from Pretoria on Monday.
Mr Olubajo said that South Africa’s Independent Police Investigating Directorate (IPID) had indicted the eight cops for the torture and murder of Badmus Ibrahim on October 10, 2017.
“The eight police officers (six men and two women) were released today (Monday) on bail of R3,000 (about N72,000) each among other conditions by the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate Court.
“One of the bail conditions is that the released police officers should not in any way interfere with witnesses.
“The eight police officers made application for bail at the magistrate court today (Oct. 8) with three lawyers representing them,” he told NAN.
Mr Olubajo said that IPID, an independent unit outside the South African Police Department, had opposed the bail application through the IPID Principal Investigating Officer, Tulani Makagula.
He said the magistrate granted the wish of the defendants and adjourned the matter until November 13 for further hearing.
“The court premises and room were filled with members of the police and Prisons Civil Rights Union, who were in solidarity with their members indicted for torture and murder of Ibrahim.
“The police union have thrown their weight behind their accused members, pledging legal support for them.
“Also, the Nigerian Union in South Africa senior officers were at the court with members of Nigerian community to witness the proceedings and ensure everything was in order,” he said.
Mr Olubajo said that NUSA’s legal adviser, Omoreige Ogboro, who was present in court, had applied for Nigeria’s Channels Television to cover the court’s proceedings.
The union’s president said the Nigerian community had earlier reported to the union the constant harassment and intimidation of Nigerians following the murder of Mr Ibrahim.
According to him, the principal witness in the case was arrested in August by that country’s police and had remained in detention since the arrest.
“NUSA commend the efforts of IPID for not leaving any stone unturned while investigating the murder case of late Ibrahim.
“Going by the briefing we received from IPID, we believe they (IPID) have a watertight case. So, we are positive that justice will be served at the end of the trial.
“We advice Nigerians in Vanderbijlpark, outside the magistrate court to remain calm as we have confidence in the investigation done by IPID so far, and South Africa’s justice system,” he said.
According to unofficial sources, up to 800,000 Nigerians mostly young people reside in South Africa. (NAN) -
World Bank cuts Nigeria, South Africa, others’ growth forecast to 2.7%
The World Bank has cut its economic growth forecast for Nigeria and other sub-Saharan Africa countries for this year to 2.7 per cent from an earlier forecast of 3.1 per cent.
The bank said on Wednesday that the cut was mainly because of slower-than-expected growth in the continent’s bigger economies, according to Reuters.
It said the slower pace of the recovery in sub-Saharan Africa was explained by the sluggish expansion in the region’s three largest economies − Nigeria, Angola and South Africa.
The region, which had posted a fairly fast average growth rate in the years leading up to 2015, suffered a loss of momentum in economic output after commodity prices crashed in 2015-16.
In April, the World Bank had predicted that the recovery would gather pace this year, with average growth expected at 3.1 per cent, up from 2.3 per cent last year.
Lower oil production in Angola and Nigeria offset higher oil prices, and in South Africa, weak household consumption growth was compounded by a contraction in agriculture, the World Bank said.
The rest of the countries in the region have been growing steadily this year, the bank said, including those that do not depend on commodities, such as Ivory Coast, Kenya and Rwanda.
The World Bank’s Chief Economist for Africa, Albert Zeufack, urged governments in the region to stop wasting money and instead boost productivity to support the region’s economic recovery.
Zeufack said, “High public debt in some countries in the region, combined with weakening currencies and rising interest rates, can endanger their ability to service those debts.
“Policymakers in the region must equip themselves to manage new risks arising from changes in the composition of capital flows and debt.”
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Nigeria Customs speak on Lagos-bound arms-laden ship arrested in South Africa
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) on Friday reacted to reports of a Lagos-bound ship full of illegal arms arrested and detained in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Recall that TNG reported on Thursday that LADA, a Russian flagged ship, belonging to St. Petersburg-based operator, Transflot, arrived Port Elizabeth on a voyage from Tulear, Madagascar en route to Lagos.
The vessel was said to still have 20 containers of improperly documented armoury on board after discharging 14 containers of legitimate cargo.
The arms and explosives found on the ship are valued at $3.5m (about N1.07bn), according to the report.
However, reacting in a telephone interview with on Friday, the NCS Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah, said the service could not comment on the vessel because it had yet to arrive the country, adding that the agency had no knowledge of the ship or its content.
He said, “The duty of the Nigeria Customs Service is to prevent any harmful commodity from entering Nigeria. Until the said ship gets here, we cannot say anything about it because we do not have that information.”
Another Customs source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “We also got the news the way you got it, from the social media and news sources.”
However, a freight forwarder and Coordinator, Save Nigeria Freight Forwarders, Dr. Osita Chukwu, told one of our correspondents that nobody knew the shipping agent of LADA.
He said, “The ship will not have a clearing agent until it gets to Nigeria. We don’t even know the shipping agent. It could be transhipment, the owner of the cargo may have been a Nigerian but the ship’s destination may not be Nigeria ultimately.”
Another official, who confided in our correspondent, said the issue of arms importation was a sensitive one that involved national security, adding that it would be premature to declare anyone wanted.
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has praised the South African government for its timely intervention.
He, however, expressed fears that Nigeria would not be able to arrest or prosecute the perpetrators.
He said, “I commend the government of South Africa for the arrest of that vessel. That is a country that has regard for the rule of law and you can be sure that those implicated will be prosecuted. I’m calling for a full investigation into the matter. I’m challenging customs to get to the root of the matter and not spare anyone that has been implicated. That is how you curb criminality.”
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South Africa arrests Nigeria-bound ship full of illegal arms
A Russian vessel carrying “dangerous cargo” has been arrested outside the Port of Ngqura in Port Elizabeth, the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) said on Thursday.
It is suspected that the vessel had been carrying “weapons of mass destruction” and explosives valued at about R50m, according to The Herald.
“TNPA can confirm that the vessel Lada has been arrested by the [SA Police Service] and is anchored outside the Port of Ngqura. We are aware that the vessel has dangerous cargo on board,” Port of Ngqura manager Tandi Lebakeng said in an emailed reply to News24’s enquiry about the vessel.
Authorities discovered explosives aboard the vessel on Sunday while conducting operations at the port, according to The Herald.
The TNPA has revealed that the ship named Lada was en route from Tulear, Madagascar and it was destined for Lagos, Nigeria.
“TNPA gave permission for the vessel to be detained outside the port – although still within port limits – and we will continue monitoring the vessel,” Lebakeng said.
The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation’s (Hawks’) spokesperson Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said that it was a “sensitive” matter.
“We are not prepared to divulge details pending a thorough assessment by different roleplayers that have been roped in to assist,” said Mulaudzi.
He said he could not yet reveal who the roleplayers were.
“No charges have been laid against anyone and as mentioned, we are not obliged to divulge [information] until the finalisation of this process,” he added.
It has been reported that the vessel was inspected following a tip-off, after it had already offloaded 14 containers at the port.
The ship had produced all the relevant permits relating to the cargo it offloaded on South African shores. The containers were dispatched by a company named Solar India.
The Herald suggested that, while the initial drop-off was above board, the tip-off alerted authorities to a further 20 containers which remained stowed away. These containers, in direct contravention of numerous laws, held illegal weapons and explosives.
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Human Trafficking: South African court hands life sentences to two Nigerians
A South Africa High Court sitting in Gauteng has handed life sentences and an additional 106 years imprisonment to two Nigerians for human trafficking.
The sentences were given at the weekend in Johannesburg, the South African capital.
The pair Frank Amaku (pictured), and Ilo Promise Somadina (25) were arrested by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime investigating unit in April 2016 at a hideous dwelling in Fourways where they reportedly ran a brothel and held victims captive.
Five victims were rescued during the operation and taken to a place of safety.
The national head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, Godfrey Lebeya, applauded the investigation team for working around the clock to ensure that the accused were ultimately convicted and sentenced.
“The sentence couldn’t have come at a better time, taking into consideration that August is celebrated as Women’s Month in South Africa,” he said.
“This is a time to once again warn those who abuse women, that they will be brought to book and justice will be served.”
One of their victims, from Upington was given the nom de guerre of Helena Boswell. The victim was kept at the Fourways home, where she and three other women spent months servicing the pair’s clients until they were rescued.
Though the Nigerians denied their level of involvement in human trafficking and have stated on multiple occasions they will appeal the conviction, their lawyer, Moleko Ratau, however, asked that the court be lenient with the pair as they were “relatively young” when the crimes took place in 2016.
The South-African court was told that the duo kidnapped the women specifically for financial gain, transforming them into sexual objects and dehumanising them, which was evident by Boswell’s testimony that she had been starved and forced to live in terrible conditions.
The Nigerians were also accused of using drugs to push Boswell into an even more vulnerable position, with her addiction used to maintain a psychological hold on her.
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2019: Nigeria’s ambassador to South Africa resigns, defects from APC to PDP
Nigeria’s ambassador to South Africa, Amb. Ahmed Ibeto has tendered his resignation letter.
He also renounced his membership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and crossed over to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ibeto was reported to have arrived Nigeria from Pretoria on Sunday and on Monday morning, he handed over his letter of resignation at the Ministry of External Affairs.
However, it could not be confirmed if the envoy saw President Muhammadu Buhari before returning to Minna on Monday evening.
Ibeto was a deputy governor of Niger State on the platform of PDP.
Checks revealed on Tuesday that Ibeto has left Minna for his hometown of Ibeto in Magama Local Government Area of the state.
According to sources, the former deputy governor was received by over 1,000 supporters on his way to Ibeto.
It was gathered that while in Ibeto, the ex-ambassador would first resign his membership of the APC and assume PDP membership.
A source close to the former deputy governor confirmed that the former envoy will join the state governorship race immediately he registered with PDP.
It could be recalled that former Ambassador was a member of the PDP until the primary election of the party in November 2014, during which he lost the governorship ticket to Umar Nasko, a former Chief of Staff to ex-governor Babangida Aliyu.
He resigned his membership of the PDP along with thousands of his supporters after complaining about “the injustice” melted to him by the then ruling party.
He was appointed an ambassador and posted to South Africa by President Muhammed Buhari in 2017.
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Another Nigerian killed in South Africa
The Nigerian community in South Africa has confirmed the killing of Mr Chibuzo Nwankwo, a 42-year-old member from Enugu State.
The community said that Nwankwo`s death brings to 121 the number of Nigerians killed in South Africa since January 2016.
Mr Habib Miller, the Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, confirmed the killing to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the telephone from Pretoria on Saturday.
According to him, the victim was shot in the early hours of Friday at a local bar in Kempton Park, Johannesburg, following a disagreement with an unknown person.
“The deceased, a patron of the bar, got drunk and started harassing a female worker.
“Information available to the union said that Nwankwo was chased out by security personnel, but he kept on coming back; became very aggressive and rude before the ugly incident occurred,’’ he said.
Miller said that the South African police later intervened and arrested the murder suspect.
“A murder case has been opened and investigation has started. We call on Nigerians to be calm and allow the law to take its course,” Miller said.
He said the union was against at any form of violence, adding that it would monitor the case to ensure that justice prevailed.
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Over 5,000 Nigerian doctors practicing in South Africa – Official
Mr Godwin Adama, the Consul General of Nigeria in South Africa, says about 5,000 Nigerian medical practitioners are in South Africa.
Adama made this known in a statement issued by the Vice Consul, Information, and Culture, Mr. David Abraham, made available newsmen on Monday in Abuja.
The Consul General, who made this known when Nigerian Doctors’ Forum South Africa, led by its Secretary-General, Dr Emeka Ugwu, visited him at the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg said the medical practitioners were in various teaching, public and private hospitals in South Africa.
“This shows that virtually every hospital in South Africa has a sizeable number of Nigerian doctors; and this includes teaching, public and private hospitals.
“What this means is that Nigerian doctors and other professionals are constantly adding value to the system and this cannot be over-emphasised,’’ he said.
“South Africa is replete with many Nigerian professionals who are contributing to the economic development in both public and private sectors in the country.
“Unfortunately, this has been either not reported at all or grossly under-reported.
“It is in this light that Nigerian professionals in South Africa have determined that they will no longer sit by and allow their numerous contributions undermined and eroded by negative publicity,” he said.
Adama said that Nigerian Doctors in South Africa had been involved in medical outreaches, where they rendered health services to the less privileged members of the society, particularly to the Nigerian nationals.
He said that the consulate would continue to celebrate Nigerian medical doctors and other professionals in South Africa.
He reiterated that the consulate would continue to partner all Nigerian Associations in South Africa to advance the wellbeing and welfare of Nigerians in that country.
“We, therefore, use this medium to call on all our nationals to emulate the professionals and continue to be law-abiding,” he said.
Earlier, the Secretary-General of the Forum informed the consulate about its activities and the need to continue to render improved services in the South African health sector.
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South African police officers to appear in court for allegedly killing Nigerian
The Nigerian Mission in South Africa announced on Friday that police officers implicated in the alleged murder of a Nigerian, Ibrahim Badmus, would be charged to court soon.
Badmus, 25, who was murdered in 2017, was among no fewer than 120 Nigerians, mainly young people, killed in South Africa since February 2016.
Nigeria’s Consul-General in South Africa, Godwin Adama, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview from Johannesburg that the South African authorities had confirmed that investigation into the murder of Mr Badmus was almost concluded.
“Badmus, a native of Lagos State, was brutally murdered by the South African police on Oct. 10, 2017 at Vanderbidjk Park, South Africa.
“Police officers implicated in the murder will be charged to court any moment from now,” the envoy said.
South African police officers were said to have stormed the home of Badmus, an undergraduate at Vaal University of Technology in Vanderbijlpark in South Africa, alleging that Badmus was trafficking drugs.
But it was learnt that when the operatives searched the home of the young Nigerian, they could not find any drug.
The operatives, allegedly asked the deceased for money and when he could not give them money, they handcuffed him and used excessive pepper spray on him. He passed out and died, due to suffocation
Adama said the case was classified as high-profile because of the tension generated by the development as some Nigerians, who had confrontation with the police almost took laws into their hands.
The consul-general said that on hearing the development, he immediately rushed to the scene where he interfaced with aggrieved Nigerians and the police to calm frayed nerves.
“I led a delegation from the mission to visit the scene on receipt of the information. When we arrived the scene, the place was tensed up because Nigerians there were not happy.
“We immediately met with the station commander in the area with some selected Nigerians.
“The police assured that a thorough investigation would be carried out and that the culprit would be brought to book.”
He said that the police authorities later arrested the police officers, who perpetrated the crime and commenced investigation.
Adama said that the mission had followed up on the case and that it was clear that investigating authorities had done a thorough job.
The President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, Adetola Olubajo, blamed the incessant killings of Nigerians in South Africa on a lack of prosecution of offenders by the South African authorities.
Olubajo told NAN that the inability of the government to bring to bring those perpetrating the heinous crimes against Nigerians to book had given some people impetus to descend on Nigerians.
“Lack of prosecution of these criminal activities has actually emboldened a lot of people to feel that they can kill Nigerians without any consequence,” he said.
On July 11, the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, during a visit to Nigeria, said that killing anybody in South Africa was a criminal act and that criminality in the former apartheid enclave was not specifically targeted at Nigerians.
But despite the assurances of Ramaphosa, the death toll of Nigerians in South Africa has continued to increase.
On July 12, another Nigerian, Martin Ebuzoeme, was killed by assailants in the Yeoville district of Johannesburg.
On July 6, Lawrence Ozumba, was similarly shot dead by gunman at No.10 Koppe Str., Middleburg, Mpumalanga.
Earlier on April 9, another Nigerian, ThankGod Okoro, was reportedly murdered at Hamburg, Florida West Rand in Johannesburg by the South African Police Flying Squad.
The same month one Clement Nwaogu, a father of two, was burnt to death by a mob, stoking a protest by some Nigerians resident in South Africa.
It was learnt that at least 14 of the protesters were taken into custody and allegedly branded drug peddlers by the South African authorities.