The death of Nelson Mandela, at age 95 on 5 December 2013, brings genuine sadness. As his health deteriorated over the past six months, many asked the more durable question:
how did he change South Africa
? Given how unsatisfactory life is for so many in society, the follow-up question is,
how much room was there for Mandela to maneuver
? South Africa now lurches from crisis to crisis, and so many of us are tempted to remember the Mandela years – especially the first democratic government – as fundamentally different from the crony-capitalist, corruption-riddled, brutally-securitised, eco-destructive and anti-egalitarian regime we suffer now. But were the seeds of our present political weeds sown earlier?
weekly newspaper.
Communities living within sight of Lesotho’s two biggest dams endure a daily struggle to get safe water because the “white gold” they can see but cannot reach is destined for neighbouring South Africa.
The landlocked country has earned a total of 11.2-billion maloti ($746-million) for selling 16,401.3 million cubic metres of clean water to its bigger, much wealthier neighbour from 1996 to 2020, according to the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA), the project’s implementing agency.
In 2020 alone, Lesotho earned 1.03-billion maloti (about $69-million) when it sold about 780 million cubic metres of water to South Africa, according to the LHDA.
Cash-strapped SA needs a lean and mean defence force To remain effective, the SANDF needs to focus on near-term threats and risks while maintaining capabilities at core levels 06 April 2021 - 15:58 Helmoed Römer Heitman Picture: GALLO IMAGES/ROGER SEDRES
The government’s track record shows it does not understand the realities of defence, and does not much care. Hence calamitous underfunding, unnecessary casualties at Bangui, and the national embarrassment of Palma.
That does not absolve the SA National Defence Force (SANDF) of its duty. No matter how obtuse or derelict in its duty the government may be, the SANDF must do its best to protect SA, its people and national interests.
Delivery date of R37bn Lesotho water project pushed back to 2027 10 March 2021 - 20:31 Mfuneko Toyana The Lesotho Highlands Water Projec will begin water delivery under the next phase in 2027. Picture: REUTERS
SA’s long-delayed R37bn Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) which is facing funding pressures, Covid-19 delays and protests in the mountain kingdom will begin water delivery under the next phase in 2027.
The department of water & sanitation said the building of roads, accommodation and electricity installations have begun, and that border closures due to Covid-19 will not affect the completion of the project.
“Covid-19 disruptions aren’t expected to have a material impact on the planned completion date of project works and commencement date of water delivery to SA, in early 2027.”
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