DA wins “historic first” in Gauteng township by-election
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has won its first ward in a township of the scandal-hit Emfuleni Municipality, taking the prize from the ANC by just eight votes. Both parties won 32% of the vote. Said elections analyst Wayne Sussman: “The DA pulled off a historic first by winning its first Gauteng township ward, edging out the ANC in Evaton West, Emfuleni, right on the edge of Johannesburg.” The results were DA 32% (16% in the previous election) ANC 32% (53%) EFF 12% (18%) PA 8% PAC 6% (1%) SACP 3% AEF 3% DITAU 3% ACP 1% TRUTH <1%. The ward became vacant after ANC ward councillor Cedric Davids was fired from the party in March for alleged misconduct.
Hopes of US-Iran deal dimmed by renewed hostilities
Renewed hostilities between the US and Iran threaten a fragile ceasefire which the US had indicated earlier this week was about to yield a deal. Hopes have dimmed, however, with the US military carrying out new strikes on Iran, targeting a military site in Bandar Abbas, a strategic port city, and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps saying it had retaliated by targeting a US air base. US Central Command, known as Centcom, said its forces shot down four Iranian one-way attack drones “that posed a threat around the Strait of Hormuz”. Kuwait’s army said its air defences were intercepting “hostile missile and drone threats”, but did not specify where they were coming from.
Only 10 of 300 Ghanaians fleeing xenophobic threats were legal immigrants – officials
Home Affairs officials have said only 10 of the first 300 Ghanaian nationals who responded to an offer from Accra of repatriation in response to xenophobic threats in South Africa were found to be in the country legally. All 10 have been declared undesirable and will not be allowed to return for a decade. A flight chartered by the Ghanaian embassy left for Accra with 295 of those who applied after their status was checked by South African officials. Meanwhile, the Refugee Appeals Authority of South Africa has said it has a backlog of more than 161,000 asylum appeals, and that in the case of some 90,000, the appellants’ whereabouts are unknown, and they are undocumented.
Iran’s partial lifting of internet ban greeted with joy, cynicism
The part-restoration of Iran’s internet access made global headlines, with many regime supporters applauding the government – but, on the ground, Iranians’ joy was mixed with anger and cynicism. A Tehran photographer is quoted anonymously as saying: “What an absolute joke. It’s been truly absurd watching western media celebrate partial restoration as if it’s an achievement to applaud the regime for. The internet is our basic right.” However, another said: “Even now, as I speak, I’m on the verge of tears from happiness.” The Iranian government cut internet access after the US and Israel launched a war against Iran on 28 February. Officials suggested the aim was to prevent surveillance, espionage and cyber-attacks. An unnamed academic from Tehran is quoted as saying: “My accounts are filled with videos of funerals of mothers wailing, fathers screaming and children lying on the graves of their parents. My heart is heavier than it was. We are the biggest losers of this war. It’s not the US, Israel and neither the Islamic Republic. We lost our livelihoods, our youth and our trust in the international community.”
Bolivia “at breaking point” after month-long protests
US-backed President Rodrigo Paz has warned Bolivia is “at breaking point” after a month of anti-government protests. Demonstrations led by unions and indigenous groups opposing Paz’s six-month-old administration’s centre-right policies and austerity measures, have set up roadblocks across Bolivia, causing serious shortages of basic goods and paralysing large parts of the nation. The protests were originally triggered at the end of April by a land reform measure proposed by Paz, which some small-scale farmers feared would make it easier for large landowners to buy up small properties. Protesters are calling for the resignation of Paz, as well as the reinstatement of fuel subsidies and a rollback of austerity measures. Paz has warned that anyone “wanting to destroy the nation” would have to deal with him and the full force of the constitution.
Sources: Daily Maverick, Reuters, BBC, The Guardian, Business Day, News24