South Africa ANC Party select contenders to succeed Zuma
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) has formally selected the two contenders to succeed President Jacob Zuma as the party’s leader.
They are Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and former cabinet minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, Mr Zuma’s ex-wife.
Emotions are running very high because, let’s face it, the party is in crisis thanks to the antics of Jacob Zuma which has caused huge political infighting in the leadership battle, raising fears the party may split before 2019 elections.
Zuma has warned the party is under threat and is at a “crossroads” and it is – but he has dragged the ANC there with his own bad behaviour.
Having recently returned from Johannesburg, I know there are huge splits in the ANC and whoever takes over, let’s hope they can restore some leadership and unity and stop South Africa from falling in to the hands of the right-wing parties.
The ANC must star to heal the wounds and look to its core membership and start to make good on the promises made by the late, great Nelson Mandela – there are millions of black South Africans who are still homeless, neglected and often overlooked. Time to put all of them first.
The Force is just not with me!
Try as I might I just can’t get in to Star Wars or the other series followed by Trekkies and speakers of Klingon. To tell you the truth they all can all morph in to one glob and disappear inside a giant black hole, as far as I’m concerned.
Obviously I’m very much on my own here as I see the latest Star Wars film generated more than $450m (£337m) in global ticket sales on its opening weekend.
The total for The Last Jedi includes $220m (£165m) from box offices in the US and Canada, placing the film second in the all-time list for North America.Apparently it trails behind the 2015 release Star Wars: The Force Awakens, which opened with a record-breaking $248m (£167m).
I can only hope this is the end of the 40-year-old space saga – I mean, the clue is in the title, surely?
Damp squib
I see Royal Wedding Fever has not yet gripped the group editor of the local newspaper group in Galway yet …
All Smiles – Rohingya
Photograph of the week from WTX News Journalist Yvonne Ridley at the heart of the refugee camp an hour away form Cox’s Bizar.
- * Yvonne Ridley is in Bangladesh working capturing the emotions of the Rohingya. Watch out for her special Christmas Day report from the camps in Cox’s Bizar.
- WTX News Exclusive – Lighten up your day with this magical smile form a 10 year Rohingya refugee
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