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E-NEWS BULLETIN
Your weekly round up of alternative news you ought to know • 23 September 2016
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CONTENTS SOUTH AFRICA: 1. ANC and the looming 2019 Shadow: How to get the Elephant out of the Room?
2. Brilliant – How Zupta’s nuclear deal will sink SA. New video unpacks facts 3. False start for Ramaphosa’s campaign as Cosatu wimps out on official endorsement 4. I won’t go, says defiant SABC boss
5. SABC Board’s honour, or lack thereof, on display
5. The productivity & growth illusion
6. Revealed: Nearly 300 government employees are on paid suspension
7. Treasury tight-lipped over set-top box probe
8. A life-saving shift: New reductions in doctors’ hours are still far off the mark
INTERNATIONAL
EGYPT:
1. A Serious Development that is Cause for Worry.. The Cairo Criminal Court Rules for the Freezing of the Funds of Five Human Rights Workers and Three Organizations
MIDDLE EAST:
1. Barack Obama tells Israel it ‘cannot permanently occupy and settle Palestinian land’
2. UC Berkeley reinstates controversial course on history of Palestine
US:
1. Why the US Backs Israel
2. Video shows police killing unarmed black man in Tulsa
3. US, Israel Launch Airstrikes on Syrian Government Forces
LABOUR
SOUTH AFRICA:
1. Sadtu threatens strike if teacher posts are cut
2. Setback for gold miners’ silicosis claims
3. Zama-zamas: illegals or entrepreneurs?
4. SAfm labour show: Corporate Power in Southern Africa – How does it affect Workers and Communities?
INTERNATIONAL
BRAZIL: Trade Unions and Human Rights Lawyers #StandWithLula as Show-Trial Looms
CAMBODIA: Labour rights violations in H&M’s “best in class” supplier factories in Cambodia
ILO: A Future we want through decent work for all
MEDIA & TECHNOLOGY
1. Vodacom strikes deal with Prasa
2. Why Facebook is public enemy number one for newspapers, and journalism
3. 10 Projects ditching Microsoft for open source – plus one switching back
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SOUTH AFRICA: ANC and the looming 2019 Shadow: How to get the Elephant out of the Room?
“As the days and weeks continue to rush past us until the next general elections in 2019, it is becoming ever clearer that the various parts of the ANC are not, as yet, working hard to ensure the party does not lose power. The shock of the loss of not one, but three metros in the local government elections is still sinking in, and the party appears to be looking inward rather than working on its image. The longer this goes on, the harder it will be for the ANC to retain power in just three years’ time. It is now glaringly obvious that the big stumbling block, the big obstacle in the way, is the party’s leader with all he represents. And yet, it is even more glaringly obvious that it is impossible to remove him, and all he represent .” read more…http://www.dai
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SOUTH AFRICA: Brilliant – How Zupta’s nuclear deal will sink SA. New video unpacks facts
“Former ANC MP Andrew Feinstein, who resigned from parliament in protest over the bribes compatriots took from South Africa’s infamous R70bn Arms Procurement Deal, says that plundering will “seem like small change” against what’s planned from the proposed Nuclear Build programme. In our interview two months ago, Feinstein urged his countrymen to “take to the streets”. He believes concerted action by civil society is the only way to stop political insiders driving through a deal with Russia that’s certain to bankrupt the country.” read more…http://www.biz
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SOUTH AFRICA: False start for Ramaphosa’s campaign as Cosatu wimps out on official endorsement
“Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa’s (non)campaign to succeed President Jacob Zuma as ANC leader next year is in further trouble. Trade union federation Cosatu was meant to be the first structure in the alliance to back Ramaphosa officially by arguing that the ANC should keep the tradition of deputy leaders ascending to the top job. But Cosatu continues to flounder due to internal divisions and some of its leaders wanting to toe the line of the Zuma-aligned “premier league” faction. Without a constituency, platform, a voice or even a campaign song, Ramaphosa is in serious trouble.” read more…http://www.dai
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SOUTH AFRICA: I won’t go, says defiant SABC boss
“SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng is refusing to go despite growing calls for him to resign after the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in Bloemfontein threw out his application for leave to appeal.
His lawyer indicated on Monday that Motsoeneng will not appeal the judgment in the Constitutional Court.” read more…http://www.iol
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SOUTH AFRICA: SABC board’s honour, or lack thereof, on display
“Just how honourable is the SABC board? This is most likely to depend on whether board members decide to reappoint Hlaudi Motsoeneng, who has come to realise that the courts cannot protect him from the recommendation of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela — that he is not fit for the office of chief operating officer. The SABC board is scheduled to convene on October 28.” read more…http://www.bdl
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SOUTH AFRICA: The productivity & growth illusion
“Politicans, economists and several labour leaders keep telling us that we need more growth and greater productivity in order to claw our way out of the present economic crisis. At the same time there is increasing acknowledgement especially in the labour movement, of the job loss impact of the “Fourth Industrial Revolution”.” read more…https://ter
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SOUTH AFRICA: Revealed: Nearly 300 government employees are on paid suspension
“Nearly 300 government employees across all departments are currently on suspension, Public Service and Administration Minister Ngoako Ramatlhodi said on Tuesday.
A total of 295 civil servants had been on paid suspension for 60 days or more, with a total salary bill of just over R33-million, Ramatlhodi told the National Council of Provinces.” read more…https://ter
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SOUTH AFRICA: Treasury tight-lipped over set-top box probe
“National Treasury is keeping mum over claims that it has recommended the suspension of South Africa’s controversial set-top box production.
Set-top boxes (STBs) decode digital signals for analogue television sets and government plans on subsidising five million poorer households as part of a broadcast migration process.” read more…http://www.fin
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SOUTH AFRICA: A life-saving shift: New reductions in doctors’ hours are still far off the mark
““This must be a victory?” a radio presenter recently half-asked, half-stated. It was in response to the Western Cape health department’s announcement of a continuous work shift limit for medical interns. The presenter was interviewing a member of the Safe Working Hours campaign, which advocates for more reasonable working hours for young doctors. Medical interns have been expected to work 30-hour shifts.” read more…http://bhe
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EGYPT: A Serious Development that is Cause for Worry.. The Cairo Criminal Court Rules for the Freezing of the Funds of Five Human Rights Workers and Three Organizations
“In a serious and worrisome development, South Cairo Court ruled for the freezing of the assets of five human rights defenders and three rights organizations. This was widely considered a negative indicator, the connotation of which cannot be denied in the context of case number 173 for the year 2011 that was filed against a number of civil society organizations that continues to appear and echo at times and then fades at other times in the past five years.” read more…http://www.ctu
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MIDDLE EAST: Barack Obama tells Israel it ‘cannot permanently occupy and settle Palestinian land’
“Barack Obama has told Israel it cannot permanently occupy and settle on Palestinian land in a speech to the United Nations.
The US president said both sides would benefit if Israel recognised it cannot permanently occupy the land and if Palestinians rejected incitement and recognised Israel’s legitimacy.
“Surely Israelis and Palestinians will be better off if Palestinians reject incitement and recognize the legitimacy of Israel,” he said on Tuesday.” read more…http://www.ind
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MIDDLE EAST: UC Berkeley reinstates controversial course on history of Palestine
“UC Berkeley senior Paul Hadweh designed a course on the history of Palestine in order to spark discussion about his family’s homeland under Israeli occupation.
“I wanted to create a space where we can read, think and speak critically about the question of Palestine,” Hadweh said. read more…http://www.lat
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USA: Why the US Backs Israel
“If multibillion-dollar weapons deals are any measure, Israel and the US have never been closer.
This past week, despite a reported personal rift between President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the US and Israel signed a pact that contains the largest pledge of military assistance to a single country in US history. The ten-year agreement will provide $3.8 billion of aid yearly to Israel — up from the $3.1 billion awarded to Israel in the countries’ previous decade-long deal.” read more…https://www.jac
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USA: Video shows police killing unarmed black man in Tulsa
“A US police department in Oklahoma has released video of an encounter in which an unarmed black man was shot dead by a white officer while his hands were up.
Video recorded by a police helicopter and a patrol car’s dashboard camera were released by the Tulsa police department on Monday show 40-year-old Terence Crutcher being shocked with a stun gun and then shot dead.” read more…http://www.alj
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USA: U.S., Israel Launch Airstrikes on Syrian Government Forces
“The U.S.
1. refuses to publish the details of the agreement with Russia about the ceasefire in Syria
2. has done nothing over the last days to separate, as promised, the “moderate rebels” it supports in Syria from al-Qaeda
3. today bombed a Syrian army position in support of an Islamic State attack in Deir Ezzor.” read more…http://www.moo
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SOUTH AFRICA: Sadtu threatens strike if teacher posts are cut
“Teacher union Sadtu says it will embark on a provincial march if the education department in Mpumalanga does not cease its plans to cut more than a thousand teacher posts.
The union’s provincial structures said on Wednesday that it held lunch-time pickets, at district offices in the province, instead all day protests in order not to disrupt learning.” read more…http://www.iol
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SOUTH AFRICA: Setback for gold miners’ silicosis claims
“South Africa’s six biggest gold mining companies have been given leave to appeal against the court decision in May to allow mineworkers sick with silicosis and TB to bring a class action against them.
The Supreme Court of Appeal has granted the mining companies leave to appeal on all aspects of the certification by the South Gauteng High Court of the “big bang” common law class action brought by miners and former miners.” read more…http://www.gro
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SOUTH AFRICA: Zama-zamas: illegals or entrepreneurs?
“The regulations governing mining in South Africa are in desperate need of revision. This was brought to the fore again last week with the deaths and arrests of “Zama-zama” artisanal gold miners, a fact underlined by word that government is seriously contemplating a new compensation regime for mine workers.
Those who died and were arrested are generally referred to as “illegal miners”. What they were doing is against the current law but in a strict sense, no crime was committed since their actions did not harm anyone but themselves, and they did not steal from anyone.” read more…http://www.fin
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SOUTH AFRICA: SAfm Labour Show
Corporate Power in Southern Africa – How does it affect Workers and Communities?
GUESTS:
Caroline Ntaopane,
South Africa National Campaign Coordinator
Women in Mining (WoMin)
Ilham Rawoot
Southern Africa Coordinator
Alternative Information and Development Centre (AIDC)
Savior Mwambwa
International Tax Campaign Manager
Action Aid
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BRAZIL: Trade Unions and Human Rights Lawyers #StandWithLula as Show-Trial Looms
“International and US trade unions joined with prominent human rights lawyers in denouncing unfounded charges against former Brazilian President Luis Inácio Lula da Silva, at a special event in New York on 20 September hosted by the ITUC and the AFL-CIO.” read more…http://www.itu
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CAMBODIA: Labour rights violations in H&M’s “best in class” supplier factories in Cambodia
“Working conditions in garment factories in Cambodia supplying H&M are far from decent even in those that H&M considers to be «best in class». This is the conclusion of a report released by Cambodian NGO Center for Alliance of Labor & Human Rights (CENTRAL) and Future In Our Hands, which represents Clean Clothes Campaign in Norway. The report “When ‘best’ is far from good enough” is based on interviews with workers and describes labour rights violations in four of H&M’s key suppliers in Cambodia.” read more…https://cle
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ILO: A future we want through decent work for all
“In a major push to achieve inclusive growth, decent work and social protection for all, the Government of Belgium is scaling-up its collaboration with and support for the ILO to meet these critical goals as called for in the UN’s new development agenda.” read more…http://www.itu
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SOUTH AFRICA: Vodacom strikes deal with Prasa
“Vodacom, Africa’s largest cellphone company by market value, yesterday said it had entered into a R1 billion telecoms deal with the Passenger Rail Agency of SA (Prasa), through its subsidiary Intersite Asset Investments.
The 15-year deal will allow Prasa to generate revenue through its fibre assets, as well as on-sell Vodacom’s products and services to the wider enterprise market in South Africa.” read more…http://www.iol
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USA: Why Facebook is public enemy number one for newspapers, and journalism
“Facebook has emerged as newspapers’ public enemy number one. Hardly a day passes in which there is no negative article about the social media website that is luring away “our” readers and advertisers.
In the past couple of weeks, there has been something of an overload of criticism on a range of topics.” read more…https://www.the
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USA: 10 projects ditching Microsoft for open source – plus one switching back
“For decades Microsoft has been the defacto choice for organisations when it comes to operating systems and office software.
But in recent years a growing number of city authorities have started to buck the trend, swapping out Windows and Office for open-source alternatives, such as the Ubuntu OS and the LibreOffice suite.” read more…http://www.tec
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