- The South African government has stepped up security ahead of the inauguration of President Jacob Zuma in Pretoria tomorrow, as several Heads of State and Government began to arrive in the country.
Mr Zuma will be inaugurated as the fourth president at a ceremony to be held at the Union Buildings in the administrative capital, Pretoria. Some 29 heads of states and government have been confirmed to be attending the ceremony, including the two southern African monarchs, King Mswati of Swaziland and King Letsie III of Lesotho.
Other dignitaries confirmed to have already arrived in South Africa for the ceremony include Cote d' Ivoire's president Laurent Gbagbo, Tanzanian's Jikaya Kikwete, Equatorial Guinea's Theodore Nguema and James Michel of the Seychelles.
The South African government has a list of more than 5000 invited guests to the event, while 30 000 people are expected to gather at the venue of the ceremony.
As part of the security and convenience for the dignataries, some major roads and intersections in Pretoria will be closed tomorrow, with the government also having setup a joint special unit for both security, safety and health.
Meanwhile, a prominent Durban businessman was reported to have been arrested yesterday for allegedly offering a bribe to one of the organising officials to secure a prime seat at the inauguration.
The businessman, said to be a leading backer of Mr Zuma is said to have tried to offer an equivalent of US$ 12 to a female official, who instead raised alarm and called her superiors.
The man named as Roy Moodley, was reportedly released last night on a R2,000 (about $237) bail, while his case is yet to be given a date. He faces charges of bribery and corruption.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
front page
| news
| countries
| archive
| currencies
| news alerts login
| about afrol News
| contact
| advertise
| español