Diamond Platnumz and wife Zari Welcome 2nd Baby In A little Over a Year | See First Photos

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dYBHFw-wcQsasG-KYpAVkQpGA57ReQH_mFee6kqqwSNziLWGtoLXBQp0__bsJ-rfvgohl9t83UQiIuo6cLpJdMD1K33UXzl3XXyQwZvXinj19ILehOzyYQQZPaFfZM5WUBfi_SawywKn/s1600/Diamond-Platnumz-wakes-up-with-baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dYBHFw-wcQsasG-KYpAVkQpGA57ReQH_mFee6kqqwSNziLWGtoLXBQp0__bsJ-rfvgohl9t83UQiIuo6cLpJdMD1K33UXzl3XXyQwZvXinj19ILehOzyYQQZPaFfZM5WUBfi_SawywKn/s400/Diamond-Platnumz-wakes-up-with-baby.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> Diamond Platnumz and wife Zari seem to be on a speed race.<br /> <br /> In August 2015, Tanzanian music star Diamond Platnumz and his socialite wife Zari Hassan welcomed their first baby together and that was a girl.<br /> <br /> A little over a year, there’s a new one and that’s a baby boy!!<br /> <br /> The couple welcomed a baby boy at 3:35AM (SA Time) on Tuesday, December 6 in South Africa.<br /> <br /> Prior to that, Diamond Platnumz shared updates as he and Hassan headed to the Netcare Pretoria East Hospital where she was admitted.<br /> <br /> Diamond Platnumz and Hassan welcomed their first daughter together, Tiffah Dangote, in 2015.<br /> <br /> Diamond Platnumz posted the photo above and said:<br /> <br /> “06th Dec 2016 03: 35am SA time…… 04: 35am EAST Time…. 02: 35am WEST Time…. 01: 35 am NORTH Time, A NEW STAR WAS BORN in NETCARE HOSPITAL / PRETORIA / SOUTH AFRICA…. unfortunately his parents Dad & Mom haven’t agreed on the name…. that’s why it even took time, to his advent to be on his parent’s Social media Pages….. Let’s wait and See, what@zarithebosslady & @Diamondplatnumz will ended up call him…”<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cMzCWtwgdDLvEULfsfzPm1jrkzVKQkJynHdVDiKO5gcilfRe5Kb_rehjGnWJuLVFKfXVLOA4rpkqULh-XPPFzhyphenhyphenf8GV6pikkIphzWqsiwIy5dQZRNTZWEOXGYr6JQiljKlHHhVmRTGEG/s1600/Diamond-Platnumz-new-baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0cMzCWtwgdDLvEULfsfzPm1jrkzVKQkJynHdVDiKO5gcilfRe5Kb_rehjGnWJuLVFKfXVLOA4rpkqULh-XPPFzhyphenhyphenf8GV6pikkIphzWqsiwIy5dQZRNTZWEOXGYr6JQiljKlHHhVmRTGEG/s400/Diamond-Platnumz-new-baby.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNu01H9dmMobv24sDSXFdmnDXtKrjeFReI3WpKR4W6lRtXMwo1vrWtbA-pXU1YFXF6cyCpVBOhvO561y0MYaYM3zcG_yRt9inebB8wRPyod0a59dXZ2rZGagX_azZvd0pALumoFxpy_1S/s1600/Diamond-Platnumz-new-baby-feet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNu01H9dmMobv24sDSXFdmnDXtKrjeFReI3WpKR4W6lRtXMwo1vrWtbA-pXU1YFXF6cyCpVBOhvO561y0MYaYM3zcG_yRt9inebB8wRPyod0a59dXZ2rZGagX_azZvd0pALumoFxpy_1S/s400/Diamond-Platnumz-new-baby-feet.jpg" width="382" /></a></div> <br />

Diamond Platnumz and wife Zari Welcome 2nd Baby In A little Over a Year | See First Photos

Diamond Platnumz and wife Zari seem to be on a speed race. In August 2015, Tanzanian music star Diamond Platnumz and his socialite wife ...

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#CokeStudioAfrica: Stonebwoy covers ‘Heart Attack’ by Trey Songz – WATCH

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; display: none; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTfeYXnVp0Fru5IVZtTekbNgMWKOSGEMdia3Bbaid5qO2W2nlVCNlu6GygWscLXy0OJQZh04aN1jxcu6qQY78UdUsLCLbHANR1BEn6xx_3YlgtEI8bcfy6kG4ZIn3sku9v9-N5P26fxFL/s1600/15285088_1813889885566696_4393585621853545822_n-960x515.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTfeYXnVp0Fru5IVZtTekbNgMWKOSGEMdia3Bbaid5qO2W2nlVCNlu6GygWscLXy0OJQZh04aN1jxcu6qQY78UdUsLCLbHANR1BEn6xx_3YlgtEI8bcfy6kG4ZIn3sku9v9-N5P26fxFL/s640/15285088_1813889885566696_4393585621853545822_n-960x515.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Ghanaian Dancehall artiste Stonebwoy put a spin on ‘Heart Attack’ a song by Trey Songz during a recent episode of Coke Studio Africa.<br /> <br /> He covered the song which was nominated for Best R&B Song at the 2012 Grammys with Mozambican singer Neyma.<br /> <br /> The episode is a part of the fourth season of the show which brings together artistes from different genres, eras and countries on the continent to create a modern and authentic sound through music Mash Up.<br /> <br /> Watch below.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UpSa-2zw1Wg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UpSa-2zw1Wg?feature=player_embedded" width="550"></iframe></div> <br />

#CokeStudioAfrica: Stonebwoy covers ‘Heart Attack’ by Trey Songz – WATCH

Ghanaian Dancehall artiste Stonebwoy put a spin on ‘Heart Attack’ a song by Trey Songz during a recent episode of Coke Studio Africa. He...

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Nominees for South African Hip hop Awards 2016 Revealed

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aQGjwnVIMkzN_vi2yCx9GL0Rv5SWGr1cYZx2gI9iHSNAY7fNWFsSwY3NWR85RqXkGFnhtM7eTDwIVWgD9zuU9S9b_RASEgIvVnVdbNv-PnsnFU-O2prfn1dd5sAiqeMC-E1Gb1qPrblr/s1600/SAHHA+stage+600x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3aQGjwnVIMkzN_vi2yCx9GL0Rv5SWGr1cYZx2gI9iHSNAY7fNWFsSwY3NWR85RqXkGFnhtM7eTDwIVWgD9zuU9S9b_RASEgIvVnVdbNv-PnsnFU-O2prfn1dd5sAiqeMC-E1Gb1qPrblr/s640/SAHHA+stage+600x400.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> <br /> Nominees for 5th edition of the Annual South African Hip Hop Awards (SAHHA) 2016 has been released.<br /> <br /> Among the list of nominees for this year’s event are Cassper Nyovest, AKA, Emtee, Kwesta, Miss Pru, Nasty C and Fifi Cooper.<br /> <br /> This year is set to take place on December 14 at Gold Reef City, Johannesburg.<br /> <br /> Hosts for the show include MTV Newsish presenter Nina Hastie and Boy Wonda.<br /> <br /> The theme for this year’s SA Hip Hop Awards is – WHO WANTS TO BE A BILLIONAIRE ?<br /> <br /> Check the list of nominees from below.<br /> <br /> <b>SONG OF THE YEAR</b><br /> <br /> GWAN – MARAZA<br /> <br /> AMENI – MISS PRU<br /> <br /> PEAR THUSI – EMTEE<br /> <br /> SIDLUKOTINI – RIKY RICK<br /> <br /> ONE TIME – AKA<br /> <br /> NGUD’ – KWESTA<br /> <br /> HELL NAW – NASTY C<br /> <br /> WASHA – CITI LYTS<br /> <br /> WALKING AND DABBING – AWON WOLF<br /> <br /> <b>ALBUM OF THE YEAR</b><br /> <br /> 20FIFI – FIFCOOPER<br /> <br /> AVERY – EMTEE<br /> <br /> DAKAR II – KWESTA<br /> <br /> REFILOE – CASSPER NYOVEST<br /> <br /> WE NEED A LITTLE – BETR GANG<br /> <br /> <b>MIXTAPE OF THE YEAR</b><br /> <br /> AM-EP – MARAZA<br /> <br /> YOU DON’T KNOW ME YET – PRIDDY UGLY<br /> <br /> GROUND ZERO – GIGI LA MAYNE<br /> <br /> ¾ PACE – KID X<br /> <br /> CAMEON DIAZ – STILO MAGOLIDE<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <b>BEST MALE</b><br /> AVERY – EMTEE<br /> <br /> DAKAR II – KWESTA<br /> <br /> REFILOE – CASSPER NYOVEST<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <b>BEST FEMALE</b><br /> <br /> 20FIFI – FIF COOPER<br /> <br /> BRAGGA – NADIA NAKAI<br /> <br /> GROUND ZERO – GIGI LAMAYNE<br /> <br /> STORIES TO TELL – MEGMAFIA<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <b>DJ OF THE YEAR</b><br /> <br /> DJ SWITCH<br /> <br /> MS COSMO<br /> <br /> DJ SPEEDSTA<br /> <br /> MAJOR LEAGUE DJS<br /> <br /> DJ DIMPLEZ<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <b>PRODUCER OF THE YEAR</b><br /> <br /> TWEEZY<br /> <br /> RUFF<br /> <br /> GANJA BEATS<br /> <br /> LUNATIK BEATS<br /> <br /> GEMINI MAJOR<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <b>BEST COLLABO</b><br /> <br /> AMENI<br /> <br /> KUZU KUSE<br /> <br /> WASHA<br /> <br /> DREAM WORK<br /> <br /> NGUD<br /> <br /> RAGGA RAGGA<br /> <br /> NOW OR NEVER<br /> <br /> WAY IT GO<br /> <br /> JUMP<br /> <br /> WALKING AND DABBING<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <b>LYRICIST OF THE YEAR</b><br /> <br /> NASTY C<br /> <br /> A-REECE<br /> <br /> KID TINI<br /> <br /> SOLO<br /> <br /> KID X<br /> <br /> <b>BEST FRESHMAN</b><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> KID TINI<br /> <br /> FIFI COOPER<br /> <br /> STILO MAGOLIDE<br /> <br /> KID X<br /> <br /> CHAD DA DON<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <b>HUSTLER OF THE YEAR</b><br /> <br /> CASSPER NYOVEST<br /> <br /> KHULI CHANA<br /> <br /> PRO VERB<br /> <br /> GIGI LAMAYNE<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <b>BEST DANCE CREW</b><br /> <br /> CREED CREW<br /> <br /> SUPREME I CREW<br /> <br /> 2LEGIT CREW<br /> <br /> VINTAGE CREW<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <b>BEST VIDEO</b><br /> <br /> COULDN’T – A REECE<br /> <br /> LE MPITSE – CASSPER NYOVEST<br /> <br /> SIDLUKOTINI – RIKY RICK<br /> <br /> AMENI – MISS PRU<br /> <br /> WAR READY CASSPER NYOVEST<br /> <br /> YIPPIKAYAY – REASON<br /> <br /> MORE – STILO MAGOLIDE<br /> <br /> M.R MADUMANE – CASSPER NYOVEST<br /> <br /> JUMP – ANATII<br /> <br /> FUSEG – RIKY RICK<br /> <br /> <b>BEST GRAFFITI</b><br /> <br /> RIOT<br /> <br /> MARZ<br /> <br /> TAPZ<br /> <b><br />BEST LOCAL BRAND</b><br /> <br /> BUTAN<br /> <br /> TWO BOP<br /> <br /> GALXBOY<br /> <br /> AMA KIP KIP<br /> <br /> CASSPER NYOVEST<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <b>BEST REMIX</b><br /> <br /> AMBITIOUZ REMIX – TWEEZY<br /> <br /> ROLL UP REMIX – EMTEE<br /> <br /> NOW OR NEVER REMIX – DJ SWITCH<br /> <br /> BADDEST REMIX – AKA<br /> <br /> JUICE BACK REMIX – NASTY C<br /> <br /> MOST VALUABLE<br /> <br /> CASSPER NYOVEST<br /> <br /> AKA<br /> <br /> KHULI CHANA<br /> <br /> KWESTA<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> BEST HIP HOP RADIO SHOW<br /> <br /> THE HIP HOP FLOOR – Y FM<br /> <br /> THE STIR UP – 5 FM<br /> <br /> NUMBA NUMBA – UKHOZI FM<br /> <br /> THE READY D SHOW – GOOD HOPE FM<br /> <br /> THE HEAD WARMAZ – BUSH RADIO<br /> <br /> THE MIXTAPE – ALEX FM<br /> <br /> HIP HOP CORNER – NW FM<br /> <br /> HIP HOP CULTURE – LIGWALAGWALA FM<br /> <br /> THE FRESH CUT – GAGAZI FM<br /> <br /> THE CAPITAL RAP UP – CLIFF CENTRAL FM

Nominees for South African Hip hop Awards 2016 Revealed

Nominees for 5th edition of the Annual South African Hip Hop Awards (SAHHA) 2016 has been released. Among the list of nominees for th...

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Wizkid’s Award Handed Over to Tanzania’s Alikiba | MTV EMA Explains The Error

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MiPIaW0RJpmA9fUvscmxMusxovmctceG-ectlyNORXbwGd0y65Avby-8heXnrbGgNGofj6MAaMlJflrpAH82hjDXtPFu-UkxTkdavY5PIay9V7uGkBww9K7vYW5PVRdiB0tT1RvJGtjg/s1600/Wizkid+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MiPIaW0RJpmA9fUvscmxMusxovmctceG-ectlyNORXbwGd0y65Avby-8heXnrbGgNGofj6MAaMlJflrpAH82hjDXtPFu-UkxTkdavY5PIay9V7uGkBww9K7vYW5PVRdiB0tT1RvJGtjg/s400/Wizkid+pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> Organizers of the MTV EMAs have cleared the confusion on the ‘Best African Act’ award earlier announced as Wizkid but later withdrawn and given to Tanzania’s Ali Kiba.<br /> <br /> The error sparked a social media outcry and MTV has now cleared the air on the unfortunate error.<br /> <br /> An MTV spokesperson commented, ‘Both Wizkid and Alikiba are great artistes and deserving winners at the MTV EMAs and we congratulate them wholeheartedly on their achievements. We apologize for any confusion but we are pleased to recognize the achievements of both these artists on this global platform.’<br /> <br /> 6 ‘Worldwide Act’ winners, including Wizkid, were selected by an international committee of MTV music executives to recognize current artists who are rising to have a wider geographic appeal beyond their local regions.<br /> <br /> The winners were chosen based off a range of criteria including international MTV video play, radio airplay, streams, and sales across multiple territories and regions.<br /> <br /> The winner of the ‘Best African Act’ award was selected by fans via votes on MTVEMA.com.<br /> <br /> Alikiba has also commented on winning the award saying, ‘Thanks to MTV for this huge honour – it’s very exciting to be recognized at the MTV EMAs and I am delighted to bring home the award to my fans in Tanzania and East Africa.  Thank you to my family and management.’

Wizkid’s Award Handed Over to Tanzania’s Alikiba | MTV EMA Explains The Error

Organizers of the MTV EMAs have cleared the confusion on the ‘Best African Act’ award earlier announced as Wizkid but later withdrawn and ...

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MOBO Awards 2016: Craig David, Popcaan, Chipmunk Win | Full List of Winners

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgF2EgPCYLPJj6qBg5DyPvpXb2GPdnbQgy9HwpJec9ITLgpQjEumg-KfLnsDV9oDytHVXzpUT86E_AFylb6PV3374ad2tNA113ZHDkoVX8lth7U8uk9gTf6-cWLBvZRtBCDJjEuQd6zT-/s1600/mobo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJgF2EgPCYLPJj6qBg5DyPvpXb2GPdnbQgy9HwpJec9ITLgpQjEumg-KfLnsDV9oDytHVXzpUT86E_AFylb6PV3374ad2tNA113ZHDkoVX8lth7U8uk9gTf6-cWLBvZRtBCDJjEuQd6zT-/s640/mobo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> The much awaited Music of Black Origin Awards (MOBO) 2016 was held in Glasgow, Friday November 2016 and among the winners were Chipmunk, Popcaan.<br /> <br /> After a long break from music, Craig David came out good picking up and award and putting up a nice performance.<br /> <br /> The event was hosted by Rickie H-Williams and Melvin Odoom.<br /> <br /> Other performers included Popcaan, Craig David, Professor Green, Lady Leshurr, Laura Mvula, Chase & Status  and many others.<br /> <br /> Tinie Tempah would however not make for what he describes as “industry politics”.<br /> <br /> Check out the full list of winners<br /> <br /> MOBO Paving The Way Award – Nicola Adams<br /> <br /> Best Reggae Act – Popcaan<br /> <br /> Best Song – Robbery Remix Abra Cadabra ft Krept & Konan<br /> <br /> Best Grime Act – Chipmunk<br /> <br /> Best Hip Hop Act – Section Boyz<br /> <br /> Best Video – SKWOD (Nadia Rose)<br /> <br /> Best Male Act – Craig David<br /> <br /> Best Newcomer – WSTERN<br /> <br /> Best Album – Made In The Manor (Kano)<br /> <br /> Best Female Act – Lady Leshurr<br /> <br /> Best International Act – Drake<br /> <br /> On October 27 2016, a number of winners were also announced at the Cagogan Hall in London during the Pre-MOBO Awards show.<br /> <br /> Below is the list of winners.<br /> <br /> Best R&B/Soul Act 2016 – Shakka <br /> <br /> MOBO Unsung – Alika<br /> <br /> Best Gospel – Guvna B<br /> <br /> Best Jazz Act – Esperanza Spalding<br /> <br /> Best African Act – Wizkid

MOBO Awards 2016: Craig David, Popcaan, Chipmunk Win | Full List of Winners

The much awaited Music of Black Origin Awards (MOBO) 2016 was held in Glasgow, Friday November 2016 and among the winners were Chipmunk, P...

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No Award for Ghana at MTV MAMA 2016 | Full List of Winners

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RMT1Wlhyphenhyphen6VavxBAdjfNZKZEV_LW5AmlNir7nQH9MFqZuxhJgFS3QVgNM8YF9R2vNi3zFyv4ULqKaleiFOC7y_n-XKaVBtuWWtbsZooMX18Y_Y1DvpIITvK2XZShS2dL3x8jVvNDfJCur/s1600/MTV-MAMA-2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RMT1Wlhyphenhyphen6VavxBAdjfNZKZEV_LW5AmlNir7nQH9MFqZuxhJgFS3QVgNM8YF9R2vNi3zFyv4ULqKaleiFOC7y_n-XKaVBtuWWtbsZooMX18Y_Y1DvpIITvK2XZShS2dL3x8jVvNDfJCur/s640/MTV-MAMA-2016.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> The 2016 MTV MAMA came off Saturday October 22 2016 at the TicketPro Dome in Johannesburg, South Africa and quite sad for Ghana, none of its nominees including R2Bees, MzVee, Stonebwoy and E.L won in any of the categories under which they were nominated.<br /> <br /> The night saw performances from Wizkid, Patoranking & Sarkodie, Yemi Alade, Diamond Platnumz and several others with a touching tribute to South African kwaito musician Mandoza who passed on September 18, 2016.<br /> <br /> The event was hosted by the 3 power girls Nomzamo Mbatha, Yemi Alade and Bonang Matheba.<br /> <br /> Although it sounds bad that no Ghanaian picked up an award, it is clarion call for the artists to double up and keep pushing for the best.<br /> <br /> Congrats to the winners so far. Below is the full list of winners.<br /> <br /> Best Group – Sauti Sol<br /> <br /> Best Live Act – Cassper Nyovest<br /> <br /> Best Alternative – Shekinah and Kyle Deutsch<br /> <br /> Best Female Act – Yemi Alade<br /> <br /> Best International Act – Drake<br /> <br /> Africa Re-imagined – Vuvian Onano and Mary Taedzerwa<br /> <br /> Legend Award – Hugh Masekela<br /> <br /> Best Lusophone Act – C4 Pedro<br /> <br /> Best Francophone – Serge Beynaud<br /> <br /> Best Male Artist – Wizkid<br /> <br /> Listener’s Choice – Jah Prayzah<br /> <br /> Best collaboration – DJ Maphorisa ft Wizkid & DJ Bucks<br /> <br /> Video of the Year – Youssoupha (Niquer Ma Vie)<br /> <br /> Personality of the Year – Caster Semenya<br /> <br /> Best hiphop Act- Emtee<br /> <br /> Best breakthrough Act – Tekno<br /> <br /> Song of the Year – My Woman (Patoranking ft Wande Coal)<br /> <br /> Artist of the Year – Wizkid

No Award for Ghana at MTV MAMA 2016 | Full List of Winners

The 2016 MTV MAMA came off Saturday October 22 2016 at the TicketPro Dome in Johannesburg, South Africa and quite sad for Ghana, none of i...

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Television & Radio Personality @bonang_m Replaces Trevor Noah as Host for MTV MAMAs 2016

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLey8_Bcwu1PoAkkBrNEGpJFWYa0611B0tB1rpOlGtVbCrN7Xus6sSn4Jjnq85XWssB1yHypW94HbNTE5mOehnHARmEJ5cgyr0EIFsVMgffrS1BF7AgjK1tS-OT2yVTJ2FkSktr2cJ81e/s1600/Bonang-A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLey8_Bcwu1PoAkkBrNEGpJFWYa0611B0tB1rpOlGtVbCrN7Xus6sSn4Jjnq85XWssB1yHypW94HbNTE5mOehnHARmEJ5cgyr0EIFsVMgffrS1BF7AgjK1tS-OT2yVTJ2FkSktr2cJ81e/s640/Bonang-A.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> South African business woman, Television & Radio personality Bonang Matheba has been announced as new host for the 2016 MTV MAMAs which takes place in Johannesburg.<br /> <br /> The announcement comes 24 hours to the main event and also as a surprise especially as Trevor Noah had been billed to host this year’s event.<br /> <br /> It is unknown why Trevor Noah could not make but we can admit, the show is not any big thing beyond Bonang and her selection is a clear indication of her hard work.<br /> <br /> Bonang in a tweet thanked MTV Africa for trusting her hold the biggest music awards show in Africa.<br /> <br /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <div dir="ltr" lang="en"> ..... Feels a bit UNREAL!! Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/MTVBaseAfrica">@MTVBaseAfrica</a> for trusting ME!! Here we go.... 24 hours to prep!! 👑🐝 <a href="https://t.co/Olknc1pKp1">pic.twitter.com/Olknc1pKp1</a></div> — Bonang B* Matheba (@bonang_m) <a href="https://twitter.com/bonang_m/status/789360482549428228">October 21, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> Bonang is the girlfriend of South African rapper AKA.<br /> <br /> <br /> Credit: nydjlive.com

Television & Radio Personality @bonang_m Replaces Trevor Noah as Host for MTV MAMAs 2016

South African business woman, Television & Radio personality Bonang Matheba has been announced as new host for the 2016 MTV MAMAs whic...

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Zuma arrives in India for BRICS summit

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4K-AwbrzP3VXQp7WoGBV3vW86p3OfCabrdHZHMpAsKfKnQfFNtHeRXIdNlnI8s0u2SHQYam9CqJNIBXosGoO1Et6cc_GLxxgkzdX98FRuXcvf71Zrn9bNpr5_1xyM7X7fx8ahgh1n5nJ2/s1600/zuma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4K-AwbrzP3VXQp7WoGBV3vW86p3OfCabrdHZHMpAsKfKnQfFNtHeRXIdNlnI8s0u2SHQYam9CqJNIBXosGoO1Et6cc_GLxxgkzdX98FRuXcvf71Zrn9bNpr5_1xyM7X7fx8ahgh1n5nJ2/s640/zuma.jpg" width="518" /></a></div> President Jacob Zuma arrived in Goa, India, on Saturday with his delegation for the 8th BRICS summit, his office said.<br /> <br /> His arrival comes as nine people are in custody after a spate of looting and arson in Braamfontein on Friday night and Saturday morning, and questions over the safe storage of former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's report on "state capture" which Zuma did not want released immediately.<br /> <br /> Minister of State Security, Mr David Mahlobi is listed as being part of the BRICS delegation.<br /> <br /> The summit theme is "Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions", and leaders and delegates will discuss intra-BRICS Cooperation.<br /> <br /> Issues will include international conflicts, the fight against terrorism, and the reform of global system of governance.<br /> <br /> This refers to the "democratisation" of the United Nations and the Bretton Woods Institutions. The presidency said leaders would also meet with the BRICS Business Council.<br /> <br /> The delegations includes Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Maite Nkoana-Mashabane; Minister of Trade and Industry, Rob Davies; Minister of Science and Technology, Naledi Pandor and Minister of Small Business Development Lindiwe Zulu.<br /> <br /> News24 has submitted questions requesting the president's response to the Braamfontein incidents.<br /> <br /> A court application on Friday by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Des van Rooyen to stop the release of the "state capture" report led to a postponement to 2 November.<br /> <br /> Zuma's own similar application would be joined with Van Rooyen's. The report was expected to gain insight into allegations that a family of wealthy industrialists who hailed from India and started a massive business empire in South Africa had a hand in the appointment of certain Cabinet ministers in South Africa.<br /> <br /> They have denied it and have threatened to take action if the allegations do not stop.

Zuma arrives in India for BRICS summit

President Jacob Zuma arrived in Goa, India, on Saturday with his delegation for the 8th BRICS summit, his office said. His arrival comes...

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Heavy security in tense Gabon after Bongo re-election validated

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2IxH_j2psBR5b6giG8tQslbj2cJ3JIcv74-K7nqu4_Tau-LkruWhccBR8Xi8STxgSwjX8rt_V2TaPsu8C_4xL9oeN0KxA8wAoXQh0MtKNNiC92CDZTD5CXh9PyBlpAXvxqvdACQZ-mKj/s1600/ali+bongo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2IxH_j2psBR5b6giG8tQslbj2cJ3JIcv74-K7nqu4_Tau-LkruWhccBR8Xi8STxgSwjX8rt_V2TaPsu8C_4xL9oeN0KxA8wAoXQh0MtKNNiC92CDZTD5CXh9PyBlpAXvxqvdACQZ-mKj/s640/ali+bongo.jpg" width="518" /></a></div> Libreville's nearly empty streets were under the watch of a heavy police and military presence on Saturday after Gabon's top court upheld President Ali Bongo's re-election in bitterly disputed polls.<br /><br />Security force checkpoints dotted routes into the capital's centre, helicopters hovered overhead and elite troops protected the presidential palace, but no violence had been reported.<br /><br />The Constitutional Court, while partially changing the results of the close August 27 vote, said Bongo maintained a lead over his former ally-turned-opponent Jean Ping, at a televised public hearing overnight Friday-Saturday.<br /><br />Bongo took 50.66 percent of the vote against 47.24% for Ping, the court ruled, putting his margin at 11,000 -- higher than the less than 6 000 initially announced.<br /><br />Concern has been growing that a ruling in favour of Bongo, 57, could spark more of the unrest Gabon saw after the president was announced to have won re-election.<br /><br />In his first comments after the ruling, Bongo appealed for "political dialogue" with the opposition to steer the country out of the crisis triggered by the announcement of his victory.<br /><br />"I intend to very quickly bring together the conditions for a political dialogue open to all those who wish (to take part)," Bongo said in a speech broadcast on television.<br /><br />He called on political leaders and defeated candidates to work with him "guided by the will to place the greater good of the nation above our individual and partisan interests."<br /><br />'Clear anomaly' <br /><br />Defeated challenger Ping, a career diplomat and a former top official at the African Union, filed a legal challenge earlier this month, demanding a recount.<br /><br />"No one can dispute the fact that Jean Ping has roundly won this election," his spokesman Jean Gaspard Ntoutoume Ayi told AFP after the court announcement.<br /><br />Ping had warned the country could face serious instability if the court rejected his appeal for a recount.<br /><br />But the government has said Ping that he would be held responsible if fresh violence breaks out, and could find himself arrested if he crosses "the red line".<br /><br />Ping and his supporters hoped to end the Bongo family's 50-year grip on power in this oil-rich country of 1.8 million people.<br /><br />Ping, 73, has made clear he believed Bongo had the court in his pocket, referring to it as "the Tower of Pisa that always leans the same way".<br /><br />The nation erupted in protest after Bongo was declared the winner following an election mired in allegations of fraud.<br /><br />During the ensuing chaos, demonstrators set fire to the parliament and clashed violently with police, who arrested around a thousand people.<br /><br />Opposition figures say "more than 50" people were killed in the violence, but the government gave a figure of three dead.<br /><br />In his legal challenge, Ping asked for a recount in Haut-Ogooue province, a stronghold of the Bongo family, where the president won more than 95 percent of the votes and turnout was declared to be more than 99 percent.<br /><br />EU observers have said there was a "clear anomaly" in the province's results.

Heavy security in tense Gabon after Bongo re-election validated

Libreville's nearly empty streets were under the watch of a heavy police and military presence on Saturday after Gabon's top court...

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Egypt court sentences 7 to hang for shooting officer

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPYtwn-3V1jM8MDQ_P1FZuTttP1tJ5KqmeAxz0dt4uKbaKcnpnoBDvFuMuOjAN3pUjmttpOKnFkNo2CS3wXJaKjL5Qnfa1Pn2l8S2WZ2BPKXjMlc1dRUgRmjjdzhrlnq9u8nMkQnEH-nC/s1600/morsi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYPYtwn-3V1jM8MDQ_P1FZuTttP1tJ5KqmeAxz0dt4uKbaKcnpnoBDvFuMuOjAN3pUjmttpOKnFkNo2CS3wXJaKjL5Qnfa1Pn2l8S2WZ2BPKXjMlc1dRUgRmjjdzhrlnq9u8nMkQnEH-nC/s640/morsi.jpg" width="518" /></a></div> An Egyptian court on Saturday sentenced seven men to hang for killing a police general in the unrest following the 2013 military overthrow of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.<br /><br />It was the defendants' second trial, after having won an appeal against an initial sentencing. They can appeal one last time.<br /><br />General Nabil Farag was shot dead in September 2013 when police raided the village of Kerdassa near Cairo where Morsi's supporters had holed up more than two months after his overthrow.<br /><br />Farag died from a single 9mm bullet to the chest.<br /><br />The Cairo court sentenced five other defendants to 10 years in prison and acquitted another one.<br /><br />Morsi's ouster, after a year in power, unleashed a crackdown on his supporters that saw hundreds killed and thousands detained.<br /><br />On August 14, 2013, police killed hundreds of Islamists while dispersing two protest camps in Cairo.<br /><br />Mobs retaliated by attacking policemen and Christian properties. More than 10 policemen were killed in Kerdassa.<br /><br />Courts have since sentenced hundreds to death over the violence, but many, including the now-detained Morsi, have won retrials.<br /><br />Seven death sentences have been carried out, including for six men convicted of carrying out attacks for an al-Qaeda-inspired militant organisation that later pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

Egypt court sentences 7 to hang for shooting officer

An Egyptian court on Saturday sentenced seven men to hang for killing a police general in the unrest following the 2013 military overthrow...

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Joburg man killed chasing lotto ticket on N1

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsu96UL3e3j8H3Pysfqhk_1EPkvr2CoudrvUtS0YEL-1zbE-ILUr73v0qGda04kRtHHGB0PxaFS3Zfur9fQNYUQND6zCqguHVkh5JzERd4fAwlhn4qfJ8hiIgi0PYecQ9ko2CGQmGyOIsT/s1600/accident.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsu96UL3e3j8H3Pysfqhk_1EPkvr2CoudrvUtS0YEL-1zbE-ILUr73v0qGda04kRtHHGB0PxaFS3Zfur9fQNYUQND6zCqguHVkh5JzERd4fAwlhn4qfJ8hiIgi0PYecQ9ko2CGQmGyOIsT/s640/accident.jpg" width="518" /></a></div> A man was struck and killed by an SUV after he stopped to pick up his lotto ticket on the N1 North before Rivonia, in Sunninghill on Saturday, paramedics said.<br /><br />It is believed the ticket flew out of an open window on the highway, EMER-G- MED spokesperson Max Cohen said.<br /><br />Cohen said the man, believed to be in his late 30s, stopped on the side of the road, leaving his wife and three year old child in the car to retrieve the ticket. <br /><br />"While crossing the highway the pedestrian was hit by a Jeep, which resulted in a multi-vehicle pile-up involving two motorbikes and five cars," Cohen said.<br /><br />Both bikers sustained moderate injuries and were treated on the scene before being transported to a nearby hospital. <br /><br />The Metro Police's specialist Accident Investigation Unit was called to the scene.

Joburg man killed chasing lotto ticket on N1

A man was struck and killed by an SUV after he stopped to pick up his lotto ticket on the N1 North before Rivonia, in Sunninghill on Satur...

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Trey Songz to collab with Stonebwoy for Coke Studio finale

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqrescd7wMjFjaM5YVoBYJ-AcGjIg9LVqp9NWCT8Y8sD9oxATuI03AbK3dOdzyqay8qpyVFGPQp2gUJRHx9T483VY-ESNMZwYZj7bbP6gv8fWj9Kt9Srpcy1FsCe1uqQApWenwkgMhj11/s1600/trey+songz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqqrescd7wMjFjaM5YVoBYJ-AcGjIg9LVqp9NWCT8Y8sD9oxATuI03AbK3dOdzyqay8qpyVFGPQp2gUJRHx9T483VY-ESNMZwYZj7bbP6gv8fWj9Kt9Srpcy1FsCe1uqQApWenwkgMhj11/s640/trey+songz.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> American R&B sensation Trey Songz has been confirmed as this year’s Coke Studio international superstar! Trey will be collaborating with a few African artists  , including Stonebwoy & SA’s own, Emtee.<br /> <br /> The Grammy nominated artist is set to star in the Coke Studio finale, scheduled to air on 19 November. <br /> <br /> Songz is expected to jet into Nairobi this September where he will be recording at Coke Studio Nairobi and performing live alongside artists from eleven participating countries, including South African artist Emtee. Some of the other African artists scheduled to perform with Songz are Nyashinski from Kenya, Vanessa Mdee from Tanzania, and Stonebwoy from Ghana.<br /> <br /> <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;"> <div style="padding: 8px;"> <div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 62.4537037037% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;"> <div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;"> </div> </div> <div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BJCAQp3D4wn/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">#Blessed</a></div> <div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"> A photo posted by treysongz (@treysongz) on <time datetime="2016-08-13T01:59:33+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Aug 12, 2016 at 6:59pm PDT</time></div> </div> </blockquote> <script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script> Speaking about the project, Trey said, “I have always been committed to spending time on the continent of Africa yearly. My fans show me so much love when I'm there. I can't wait to visit Kenya and partner with the Coca-Cola Company on this initiative. I am fortunate to be working with some of Africa’s biggest stars. I look forward to learning from them, making a lot of new friends as I discover what they have to offer.” <br /> <br /> Coke Studio airs every Saturday at 18:05 on e.tv. <br />

Trey Songz to collab with Stonebwoy for Coke Studio finale

American R&B sensation Trey Songz has been confirmed as this year’s Coke Studio international superstar! Trey will be collaborating wi...

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Durban councillor responds to homophobic tormentor

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Kykwxbxz5H7PHopKTp4K84DQwzCvXcKA9BzubeDFi-rk3rV0yUqQf4I_AyGJFr1HT6qKKWvm2gyj0ZShgyKfF53km8XzfIjCLcO8fQuRcdhyphenhyphenDyICFXR81o3WkZJW3JOOS2HKGGcJtRS6/s1600/homophobic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Kykwxbxz5H7PHopKTp4K84DQwzCvXcKA9BzubeDFi-rk3rV0yUqQf4I_AyGJFr1HT6qKKWvm2gyj0ZShgyKfF53km8XzfIjCLcO8fQuRcdhyphenhyphenDyICFXR81o3WkZJW3JOOS2HKGGcJtRS6/s640/homophobic.jpg" width="518" /></a></div> An openly gay eThekwini councillor has made public details of homophobic hate mail a constituent has been sending him.<br /><br />The individual had been emailing him since May, the Democratic Alliance’s Martin Meyer posted on his Facebook page.<br /><br />“I especially liked the one where you told me that you pray for my parents that they will be forgiven for their failures as parents. I never responded to you, except when you asked for my boss' email, as I do not usually justify people's hate with a response,” he wrote.<br /><br />LGBTI rights were in the spotlight this week when Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba announced on Tuesday that gay-bashing US pastor Steven Anderson and his entourage have not been granted visas to enter SA for their “soul-winning” crusade.<br /><br />Meyer wrote that his sexuality was public knowledge and he had never hidden it from voters. He had spoken about it in some of the churches in his area, and fielded questions about it from residents.<br /><br />“With all of this, the people of Ward 27 kindly re-elected me with 77.1% of the votes (an increase from 2011). To put it into numbers 13 272 residents of this ward did not share your hate. You might be further interested to know that 140 people in this ward voted for the ACDP (0.81%). I am sure they are grateful for your vote.<br /><br />“It is thus clear that you are in the minority. But fear not - The Democratic Alliance will continue to fight for the rights of minorities, as they fight for the rights of all South Africans. I thus give you my word, I will continue to represent you in council, and I will be available to assist if you if ever you need my help,” he said.<br /><br />“I respect your freedom of religion. I respect that you have certain views based on your interpretation of your religion. As I have a Master's degree in Theology, I would love to engage with you on those views. But you must also respect my views, my private life, and you must respect the wishes of 13 272 of your fellow Ward 27 residents.”<br /> <br /> <br /> Source: <a href="http://www.news24.com/">News24</a>

Durban councillor responds to homophobic tormentor

An openly gay eThekwini councillor has made public details of homophobic hate mail a constituent has been sending him. The individual had ...

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Edward Zuma slams calls for Nkandla proof of payment

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoYkkp-V4nx3jh8phm1AGHZW0jLTbYlKnGaHywX6Ous_e6Gf4q-vci9XAyaamyhdKBOylOCaqaInhTdlaJQFJwsTk_e2UgcW2KHt7bPxON7u_zVs9HfRJQbKKAywbzDqw-d4E0YegcRfu/s1600/edword+zuma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoYkkp-V4nx3jh8phm1AGHZW0jLTbYlKnGaHywX6Ous_e6Gf4q-vci9XAyaamyhdKBOylOCaqaInhTdlaJQFJwsTk_e2UgcW2KHt7bPxON7u_zVs9HfRJQbKKAywbzDqw-d4E0YegcRfu/s640/edword+zuma.jpg" width="518" /></a></div> President Jacob Zuma's son Edward has come out guns blazing in an open letter attacking the media and his father's detractors.<br /><br />In his letter Edward Zuma said under normal circumstances his father's repayment of non-security upgrades to his Nkandla homestead would be "heralded the full and final end to the matter".<br /><br />"When President Zuma paid the R7.8m amount relating to the non-security upgrades, true to form, the Nkandla matter received a new currency, instead of being received and perceived as a fossil that it is objectively. Under normal circumstances, the payment would have heralded the full and final end to the matter as a lucrative media source."<br /><br />Taking jabs at the media, Edward Zuma said his father's repayment had instead been turned into an opportunity to flog a dead horse with many asking questions about affordability and other criteria.<br /><br />"Others escalated their desperation to demanding proof of payment to be made available publicly. This is the kind of poor mental application and selective moral righteousness visited upon our country."<br /><br />Edward Zuma said commercial media headlines have become a "cardinal path which drives and hegemonises all conversations of the socio-economic life of South Africa".<br /><br /><b>EFF to seek clarity</b><br /><br />"What defies logic is the fact that citizens have allowed themselves to collapse under the weight of media collusion; making them pliable fodders for what in any credible thought is brave-faced propaganda."<br /><br />This comes after a News24 report earlier this week that the EFF and the DA wanted President Zuma to provide proof of payment.<br /><br />DA leader Mmusi Maimane was reported as saying it was important for President Zuma to provide proof to the National Assembly that he personally paid the outstanding amount and that claims that he had received a loan from the VBS Mutual Bank were not a front.<br /><br />The EFF further indicated that it would seek further clarity on the main source and principle that led to VBS Mutual Bank granting a loan to the president. The party claims the bank is supposed to benefit ordinary people in Vhembe.<br /><br />On Monday the Presidency confirmed that Zuma had paid the amount with funds raised through a home loan from VBS Mutual Bank.<br /><br />National Treasury in June submitted a report to the Constitutional Court on how much he had to pay after the court in a March 31 judgment ordered Treasury to determine a "reasonable amount".<br /><br />The costs included upgrades to a so-called "firepool", amphitheatre and kraal at his private Nkandla residence.

Edward Zuma slams calls for Nkandla proof of payment

President Jacob Zuma's son Edward has come out guns blazing in an open letter attacking the media and his father's detractors. In ...

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ANC Limpopo urges party to rebuild, dismisses early conference talk

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJQ2lQerQqgI5SIrs1UZ3_U7xxdLkzdOpLGlKfK51eMkxfOOZjdPpb92EsIXI5oa4h7hNNpgh7zoGqPaQtxhTc_bxvQHHF1iU3yNVPM0lHQqfCa3NF6SWBmaFa-2rHf5upLEeAVHhb2j0/s1600/ANC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJQ2lQerQqgI5SIrs1UZ3_U7xxdLkzdOpLGlKfK51eMkxfOOZjdPpb92EsIXI5oa4h7hNNpgh7zoGqPaQtxhTc_bxvQHHF1iU3yNVPM0lHQqfCa3NF6SWBmaFa-2rHf5upLEeAVHhb2j0/s640/ANC.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> The African National Congress in Limpopo has vowed to reform itself and urged branches to focus on rebuilding instead of holding an early special conference or consultative conference to resolve leadership problems.<br /><br />This resolution was taken during the two-day provincial lekgotla held in Polokwane on September 9 and 10.<br /><br />Highlighting the prospect of logistical challenges, ANC provincial secretary Knox Seabi said: "An early conference or non-elective conference will not add value to the work of rebuilding the ANC. At a logistics level it will require resources that the organisation doesn't have.<br /><br />"At a political level the preparatory work will require material such as discussion documents, delegate nomination processes and related audits.<br /><br />“The position of the ANC in Limpopo is that structures must focus on rebuilding the organisation as the leading organisation of the society, restore the mass-based character of the ANC with alliance partners and strengthen relations with organs of civil society," said Seabi.<br /><br />“As ANC we have noted that the ANC election guidelines for nomination of councillors has been disempowering to the constitutional structures of the organisation,” he added.<br /><b><br />Failure</b><br /><br />"We will develop programmes to address challenges of manipulating councillor nomination processes in certain wards or branches. And we recommend the review of list guidelines with a view to abandon list committees with the exception of the national list committee," Seabi said.<br /><br />He said the ANC in Limpopo takes full responsibility for its failure to take control of both the Thabazimbi and Modimolle municipalities after the elections, which are led by opposition parties.<br /><br />He also pledged that the ANC would strengthen discipline in terms of attendance of councillors, MPs and mayors to legislatures, councils and constituency offices in order to improve service delivery to the people.<br /><br />The ANC saw a reduction in popular support at the local government elections in August that has prompted much internal review and introspection.<br /> <br /> Credit: <a class="accreditation" href="http://www.news24.com/" id="lnkArticleAccreditationName" target="_blank">- News24</a>

ANC Limpopo urges party to rebuild, dismisses early conference talk

The African National Congress in Limpopo has vowed to reform itself and urged branches to focus on rebuilding instead of holding an early ...

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Zim sculptor defends himself after Mugabe's statue is mocked

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiCze3plMJhUp2Yk_EQ5XnQ8raGahvm5YIwoiABuw-K0GabdWhIwb5-duXyYcQmEU_a6bvuY7OepcmxkwAkfXCuMIfHZhIzDO7WldUKsf7UcWrcCwyXmA3BTkdTJq0HXU0AcZGE797cH3/s1600/mugabe1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiCze3plMJhUp2Yk_EQ5XnQ8raGahvm5YIwoiABuw-K0GabdWhIwb5-duXyYcQmEU_a6bvuY7OepcmxkwAkfXCuMIfHZhIzDO7WldUKsf7UcWrcCwyXmA3BTkdTJq0HXU0AcZGE797cH3/s640/mugabe1.jpg" width="518" /></a></div> A Zimbabwean sculptor defended himself on Monday after his official statue of President Robert Mugabe was widely criticised as a caricature.<br /> <br /> Dominic Benhura was pictured in the state-run Herald newspaper standing next to the president and first lady Grace Mugabe at the unveiling of the giant stone statue outside the State House in Harare.<br /> <br /> The carving, about twice the height of Mugabe himself, shows the 92-year-old leader with his trademark glasses and thin strip of moustache, holding up a clenched hand in salute.<br /> <br /> "I took up the challenge and did my best. Normally, I do not do portraits. Obviously, it did not come out the way some people expected it," Benhura told AFP.<br /> <br /> The statue was rapidly shared on social media, with many people questioning whether it bore a close resemblance to the president, who has ruled over Zimbabwe with an iron fist since 1980.<br /> <br /> "Robert Mugabe has just been sculpturally insulted and he (has) not figured it out," newspaper proprietor and activist Trevor Ncube said on Twitter.<br /> <br /> <b>Strong impression </b><br /> <br /> "If I was Robert Mugabe the dictator, I would have arrested (Benhura) and killed the statue."<br /> <br /> Two statues of Mugabe were unveiled at State House, the president's official residence and office, on Friday.<br /> <br /> Mugabe praised both artworks.<br /> <br /> "This is wonderful art and the artists naturally are gifted people, absolutely gifted," he was quoted as saying by the Herald.<br /> <br /> "To see oneself reproduced this way and that way, replicated, it's something that should be more appreciated than just by saying thank you."<br /> <br /> Stone sculpture is a celebrated art form in Zimbabwe, and Benhura has won national prizes for his abstract work, as well as tackling subjects such as plants, trees and reptiles.<br /> <br /> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <div dir="ltr" lang="en"> Which is uglier?<br />RT for Grace Mugabe Outfit<br />Like for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MugabeStatue?src=hash">#MugabeStatue</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FashionPolice?src=hash">#FashionPolice</a> <a href="https://t.co/MB8whnQegy">pic.twitter.com/MB8whnQegy</a></div> — Trends Zimbabwe ™ (@TrendsZim) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrendsZim/status/774702504730824704">September 10, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> A series of his sculptures depicting children in a leapfrog game is on permanent display in front of the Harare mayoral offices.<br /> <br /> He said it took him six months to produce the Mugabe statue but declined to say how much he was paid.<br /> <br /> "This is our president," he told local press at the unveiling. "He is our number one so I wanted to give it a strong impression."<br /> <br /> Mugabe has recently vowed to crack down on a wave of protests against his authoritarian rule, as public anger grows over massive unemployment, delayed government salaries and banks running short of cash.

Zim sculptor defends himself after Mugabe's statue is mocked

A Zimbabwean sculptor defended himself on Monday after his official statue of President Robert Mugabe was widely criticised as a caricatur...

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South Sudan leaders 'amass wealth as country burns'

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGinzFqTyN67UHXQzeXqzZ60x9wXPoysfzcddZ62EJrK0Nq_WmkK490rl7x4kE3m425eoQqnD3RJJoxxnRy68hPm9Yx3B0Arw0_ti6-kEXYpLcSkH8ZrFsM3TAcM1qo3sq56rMm0hpw0yI/s1600/south+sudan+president.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGinzFqTyN67UHXQzeXqzZ60x9wXPoysfzcddZ62EJrK0Nq_WmkK490rl7x4kE3m425eoQqnD3RJJoxxnRy68hPm9Yx3B0Arw0_ti6-kEXYpLcSkH8ZrFsM3TAcM1qo3sq56rMm0hpw0yI/s640/south+sudan+president.jpg" width="518" /></a></div> South Sudan's leaders have amassed wealth abroad amid a conflict in which tens of thousands have been killed, a US-based watchdog group said Monday, charging that the civil war is being fueled by competition among rivals over national resources such as oil.<br /><br />South Sudan President Salva Kiir, former deputy Riek Machar and those close to both men have looted the country in accumulating wealth that includes mansions, luxury cars and stakes in a number of businesses abroad, according to the report by The Sentry.<br /><br />The report says it has obtained images of officials' family members jet-setting and partying in five-star hotels, as well as documentation of their properties abroad. Officials in South Sudan who earn modest salaries have been able to amass fortunes with help from arms dealers, bankers, lawyers and others abroad, it said.<br /><br />"The key catalyst of South Sudan's civil war has been competition for the grand prize — control over state assets and the country's abundant natural resources — between rival kleptocratic networks led by president Kiir and (former) vice president Machar," the report says.<br /><br /><b>International pressure </b><br /><br />"The leaders of South Sudan's warring parties manipulate and exploit ethnic divisions in order to drum up support for a conflict that serves the interests only of the top leaders of these two kleptocratic networks and, ultimately, the international facilitators whose services the networks utilise and on which they rely."<br /><br />South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, plunged into conflict soon after Kiir fired Machar from his post as vice president in 2013. A peace deal reached a year ago under international pressure has been violated repeatedly by fighting, and Machar fled the country in recent weeks.<br /><br />The report by The Sentry, which was co-founded by actor George Clooney, says that in 2015 it began "to follow the money that has been and continues to be amassed" by networks loyal to either Kiir or Machar.<br /><br />The report says the country's leaders, including some military generals, have much of their wealth in the form of high-end properties in neighbouring countries such as Uganda and Kenya. General Paul Malong, the chief of military staff, owns two villas in Uganda in addition to a $2 million mansion in a gated community in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, according to the report, which cites his annual salary as roughly $45 000.<br /><br />Documents show that several children of the president, including his 12-year-old son, have held stakes in a number of business ventures, the new report says.<br /><br />"Machar has had far less access to rent-seeking opportunities," it says.<br /><br />The report urges the international community, including South Sudan's neighbours, to crack down on banks that fail to stop dubious transactions, and impose asset freezes on those responsible for human rights violations.

South Sudan leaders 'amass wealth as country burns'

South Sudan's leaders have amassed wealth abroad amid a conflict in which tens of thousands have been killed, a US-based watchdog grou...

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Pregnant woman run over at car wash laid to rest with unborn child in her arms

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgnztsWWlSYAR-MD_P2z913e9y35SfsYui9nBzdbpGVw5HYaTL1c_x8335wTcCG-L0bYPUbPJ9TR_L4Oydxh8XMNaFNTxg1Nu2FZZyOfRcMgTsYOTCf6-Q8JEjzxZiYUNxvArenEN1DVY/s1600/pregnant+woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgnztsWWlSYAR-MD_P2z913e9y35SfsYui9nBzdbpGVw5HYaTL1c_x8335wTcCG-L0bYPUbPJ9TR_L4Oydxh8XMNaFNTxg1Nu2FZZyOfRcMgTsYOTCf6-Q8JEjzxZiYUNxvArenEN1DVY/s640/pregnant+woman.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> Pretoria - Belinda Louw, the pregnant woman who was run over at a car wash in Pretoria on August 13, was laid to rest with her unborn son Ryan in her arms on Thursday.<br /><br />The service was held at the NG Church Wonderboom South, <a href="http://www.netwerk24.com/Nuus/Algemeen/belinda-klein-ryan-saam-ter-ruste-gele-20160901">Netwerk24</a> reported.<br /><br />Louw died eight days after an employee at the car wash at the Sasol filling station in Gezina, Pretoria, ran her over by accident in a Toyota Fortuner while she was waiting for her car to be washed.<br /><br />She was 38 weeks pregnant with her first-born. Ryan was supposed to have been born through a Caesarean section a week after the incident but he did not survive.<br /><br />Her fiancé and Ryan's dad Corné Hitge wrote a letter to her in the funeral notice:<br /><br />"To my darling,<br /><br />"Words cannot describe how much I love you and how much I will miss you! You were my motivation. <br /><br />"Thank you for giving me the opportunity to know somebody who has a good heart. I will love you forever."<br /><br />On the back page of the funeral notice family and friends said goodbye to Ryan.<br /><br />"No picture will ever be taken of his christening, his first birthday, his first day in school, his matric farewell, his 21st birthday, his wedding day.<br /><br />"We will miss everything about you, dearest little Ryan.<br /><br />"But we know a little dark-haired boy is skipping in heaven, joy beaming from his face because he was just on Jesus' lap."<br /><br />The police are investigating a case of culpable homicide.<br /><br />The employee, who was not authorised to drive the vehicle, has been fired.

Pregnant woman run over at car wash laid to rest with unborn child in her arms

Pretoria - Belinda Louw, the pregnant woman who was run over at a car wash in Pretoria on August 13, was laid to rest with her unborn son ...

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Mwai Kibaki has blood clot in neck, to undergo surgery in SA

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcUBm6U9VwYvZ_Gt5BU57hz0bJBDCIPNmUU8bYww2sviSu14txzc1AFiAiigHlqTF-6lXy_NsmlS4xIl_mPSJvnRDBr1VGCZU8Zp3BKXFFw3N_THiebHOo6Yarl0K4hhglJFGhKHYfg2W/s1600/kibaki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBcUBm6U9VwYvZ_Gt5BU57hz0bJBDCIPNmUU8bYww2sviSu14txzc1AFiAiigHlqTF-6lXy_NsmlS4xIl_mPSJvnRDBr1VGCZU8Zp3BKXFFw3N_THiebHOo6Yarl0K4hhglJFGhKHYfg2W/s640/kibaki.jpg" width="518" /></a></div> Former Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki is set to undergo surgery in South Africa after a blood clot was found in a vein on his neck, reports said on Wednesday.<br /><br />Kibaki was admitted to the Netcare Sunninghill Hospital in Johannesburg on Sunday after suffering a minor stroke.<br /><br />He was airlifted to SA for specialised treatment after spending the entire day at Karen Hospital, where he was rushed after falling ill at his home in Muthiga, Nairobi.<br /><br />On Tuesday, doctors found a clot in his neck and scheduled surgery for Thursday to remove it.<br /><br />This is the third time the 84-year-old ex-president has suffered a stroke, <a href="http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Kibaki-scheduled-for-surgery-on-Thursday/1056-3355626-bqwuhf/index.html">Daily Nation</a> reported.<br /><br />However, doctors said that the blood clot was located in a safe part of his body.<br /><br />Relatives who accompanied him and government officials confirmed that he was doing well and even walking around.

Mwai Kibaki has blood clot in neck, to undergo surgery in SA

Former Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki is set to undergo surgery in South Africa after a blood clot was found in a vein on his neck, reports ...

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Rescue mission mounted for gravely ill sailor

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZv8sHEGH_kHS2-LqSIDot604Thu3TaJu31STwBI8paqxWq34erVhjfNyNCdA_cmPLBhpbiRnkPdMA1QNmpPdStQWu715u0WJ1WUe9mzwDA6dQ4T91wUpj80ZAOWXbuPQZv_xZ1Rop8eN8/s1600/sailor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZv8sHEGH_kHS2-LqSIDot604Thu3TaJu31STwBI8paqxWq34erVhjfNyNCdA_cmPLBhpbiRnkPdMA1QNmpPdStQWu715u0WJ1WUe9mzwDA6dQ4T91wUpj80ZAOWXbuPQZv_xZ1Rop8eN8/s640/sailor.jpg" width="518" /></a></div> <b>Port Elizabeth</b> - A gravely ill sailor on a bulk carrier ship was rescued by NSRI volunteers and paramedics on Sunday.<br /><br />NSRI spokesperson Craig Lambinon said that a rescue mission was launched after the vessel had been directed by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre to sail towards the nearest port, Port Elizabeth.<br /><br />“This was following an illness to a 35-year-old Republic of the Union of Myanmar sailor whose condition, suffering an intestinal illness for the past week, had deteriorated and the patient was reported to be unconscious,” he said.<br /><br />A rescue craft managed to rendezvous with the bulk carrier nearly 10 nautical miles from shore.  <br /><br />“The rescue paramedic and NSRI rescue crew were transferred on board and the patient was found to be in a critical condition and unconscious.”<br /><br />“A lowering rig was erected and the patient was lowered onto the sea rescue craft where medical treatment continued while the patient was brought to the Port Elizabeth sea rescue base,” he said.<br /><br />The sailor was taken to hospital.

Rescue mission mounted for gravely ill sailor

Port Elizabeth - A gravely ill sailor on a bulk carrier ship was rescued by NSRI volunteers and paramedics on Sunday. NSRI spokesperson C...

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