Current Issues

Opening of South African Parliament – 11 February 2010

South African President, Jacob Zuma, delivered his annual State of the Nation Address on 11 February 2010, twenty years to the day since the release of Nelson Mandela. For the first time in history the State of the Nation Address was held in the evening, in order to accommodate a bigger television audience. Important guests included former Presidents Mandela and FW De Klerk, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. In his address, Zuma emphasized the importance of creating jobs, jacking up local government delivery and improving access to health care and education.

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New Navel recruits undergo drilling in Saldahna – 25 Jan 2010

NEWCOMERS: Naval recruits undergo drilling and swimming instruction at Saldanha during their basic training, which started a few weeks ago. The 545 cadets are part of the 2010 intake of 4 500 recruits into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

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Mandela Museum opens exhibition at Drakenstein Prison – 09 Feb 2010

VICTOR VERSTER PRISON GEARS UP FOR 20 YEAR CELEBRATIONS SINCE MADIBA’S RELEASE: The Nelson Mandela Museum, with sites in Qunu and Mthatha, houses much of the Mandela legacy – at his request. This week, in honour of the 20th  anniversary of his release, and the 10th birthday of the Nelson Mandela Museum, the Museum and Oryx Media have created two satellite exhibitions as part of its outreach programme. The exhibition – called 20 Years of Freedom, A Lifetime of Service – is being showcased outside the Prison and for the opening of parliament on Thursday, 11 February.
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Progress on Cape Town’s IRT – 2 February 2010

CHANGING LANDSCAPE: The construction of a Integrated Rapid Transport (IRT) System to link the city to Milnerton is in full swing. The project will provide a dedicated two lane busway that will ease the traffic congestion between the two areas.

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Champs of Champs in Athlone – 6 February 2010

IT’S A CARNIVAL: Colourful teams of Cape Minstrels competed in the Champs of the Champs competition held at the Turfhall stadium in Athlone. Thousands of minstrels sang, danced and waved umbrellas and flags as they entertained the audience. The Golden Dixies was declared the overall winner.

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In full colour at the J&B Met – 30 January 2010

Close to 50 000 fashionistas, male and female, descended on the Kenilworth Race Course for one of South Africa’s most glamorous horseracing events, the J&B Met. The Met, which is an annual event, is known as a playground for the elite and the who’s who of the country. It is also one of the only events where locals get to rub shoulders with the country’s rich and famous. This year saw a colour battle of note. Couples vied for the chance to cross the finish line in the most colourful outfit in keeping with the theme of “In Full Colour”. This gave them license to to be bold and creative with their outfits – and boy, weren’t they just!

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The Cape Equality court extends rights to fishermen – 15 December 2009

The Cape Equality Court has extended the rights of fishermen by increasing their quotas, pending the finalisation of legislation to protect them.

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Building bridges for the people – 3 December 2009

MILITARY engineers have completed construction of a life changing bridge over the Xume River that enables access to a clinic and schools during the rainy season.

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FIFA celebration in Long Street – Friday, 04 December 2009

The world has gathered in Long Street, Cape Town, ahead of the final FIFA 2010 World Cup draw tonight. The city centre is abuzz with people streaming towards a massive outdoor party in the city, a few hundred metres from where dignitaries are gathering for the official draw tonight.

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Cape Town ignites for the FIFA World Cup Draw, and South Africa’s 2010 World Cup

World Cup fever is fast spreading throughout South Africa. FIFA representatives, sports stars, celebrities and politicians have all descended on Cape Town for the draw on Friday, 4 December 2009 in Cape Town.

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African kings, queens, princes and princesses gather to honour Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela – 5 November 2009

In a gathering blessed by the gods, royalty from across the world, African kings and queens, princes and princesses took centre stage at the inaugural African Royalty Award ceremony held in Freedom Park. Read the rest of this entry »


African Royals and Traditional Leaders Institute launch – 3 November 2009

Kings, queens and chiefs from across Africa descended to Johannesburg to launch an institute they hope will expand their roles on the continent. The leaders, all the way from Morocco to Swaziland, describe their new Institute of African Royalty as part think-tank on democracy and development. Read the rest of this entry »


Imam Gassan Solomon will be sorely missed, a statement by Archbishop Desmond Tutu – 29 October 2009

There was a time not so long ago when South Africans were forced to live separate lives. This institutionalised separation extended into every facet of our existence. Even our places of worship were divided.
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Imam Gassan Solomon, Muslim leader and anti-apartheid struggle veteran – 29 October 2009

Imam Gassan Solomon, Muslim leader and anti-apartheid struggle veteran, was laid to rest in Constantia on 29 October following a short illness. Read the rest of this entry »


Tutu finally meets his Tester! – 22 October 2009

Although the Archbishop Tutu gave his name to the Tutu Tester, he had not yet been on board. Until today. This was his first opportunity to get behind the wheel of “his” van and see the staff of the Tutu Tester in action as staff employed in the surrounding businesses had the opportunity to visit the unit and utilise its counselling and testing services.   Read the rest of this entry »


Cape Town Countdown to 2010 – 21 October 2010

With 232 days to go until FIFA World Cup 2010 kick-off, Cape Town’s new stadium is rapidly taking shape. Contractors said today they would conclude the build in 54 days, leaving ample time for trial runs and trouble-shooting prior to the big event. Read the rest of this entry »


Remembrance and activism… Che Guevara’s children visit Gugulethu 7 memorial – 19 October 2009

Dr Aleida Guevara and her brother, Camilo Guevara, arrived in South Africa this week. The pair hope South Africans will help pressure President Barack Obama to release five Cuban prisoners still being held in a US maximum security prison. The Guevaras visited many Cape Town sites Read the rest of this entry »


SANDF celebrates 10th anniversary of South African peacekeeping in Africa – 17 October 2009

FORCE FOR PEACE: South Africa marked the 10th anniversary as a peacekeeping force in Africa with a South African National Defence Force parade through the streets of Bloemfontein, a fly-past by military aircraft, and an address by Commander in Chief, President Jacob Zuma, on 16 October 2009. Read the rest of this entry »


Tutu launches his book “God’s dream” on his birthday with school children – 7 October 2009

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu celebrated his 78th birthday by launching the children’s book, God’s Dream, surrounded by school kids, publishers and fans, at the Centre for the Book in Cape Town on October 7, 2009. Read the rest of this entry »


Tutu celebrates his 78th birthday with staff – 7 October 2009

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu celebrated his 78th birthday – on the eve of the actual day – with his staff at his office in Milnerton, Cape Town, today. Tutu, who was in a jolly mood, blew out all the candles on his cake and reminisced about his life. Read the rest of this entry »


Pan-African Climate Change and Poverty Hearing hosted by Oxfam International and the Environmental Monitoring Group in Cape Town – 5 October 2009

Oxfam International and the Environmental Monitoring Group joined hands to host two day hearings in Cape Town under the banner: Pan-African Climate Change and Poverty Hearing. The day’s programme was thought-provoking and informative, and included heartfelt testimony, performance art and input from leaders, activists and climate change experts, Read the rest of this entry »


IN memory of Imam Abdullah Haron, murdered by apartheid security police 40 years ago – 28 September 2009

Imam Abdullah Haron, who served as imam at the Stegman Road Mosque in Claremont, Cape Town, died 40 years ago this week. He was arrested by the South African apartheid security police in May 1969, and accused of being involved with the banned Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). Read the rest of this entry »


Green Point Stadium update – 15 September 2009

A layer of gravel is laid down in preparation for the green grass of the pitch at the Fifa 2010 Soccer World Cup stadium in Green Point.  The gravel, consisting of washed stones, covers drainage pipes. Read the rest of this entry »


Cape of Storms claims another ship – 8 September 2009

The infamous ‘Cape of Storms’ has claimed a third vessel in three months, this time the Panamanian-registered Seali-One. It was was driven ashore – from Table Bay –  overnight due to high seas and strong winds, and landed just off Sunset Beach. Read the rest of this entry »


A Place under the Sun…

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, patron of the Sunflower Fund, sports the first of the 2009 sunflower bandanas that go on sale during the month of September to support annual Bandana Day that takes place on October 14. He encouraged his entire staff to go to Pick n Pay, which stocks the bandanas for the month in support of the fundraising effort, to buy bandanas. Read the rest of this entry »


Live Rage, Cry Rage…a tribute to James Matthews – 3 September 2009

Legendary Cape Town poet, James Matthews, was in full cry this week when he kicked off the Speak the Mind poetry and music sessions at Artscape. The diminutive poet, who packs a powerful literary punch, celebrated his 80th birthday this year. Read the rest of this entry »


Cape ANC pays Tribute to Struggle Stalwart Rayi Nomveli Madikwa

Rayi Nomveli Madikwa, who died on August 8, 2009, will be remembered for her bravery in defying apartheid repressions during the struggle for liberation in South Africa. Madikwa, who with numerous other prolific Western Cape ANC comrades fought in the trenches of townships like Guguletu, Nyanga and Langa, was given a moving farewell at her home in Guguletu on August 22, 2009 at a funeral that drew a phalanx of people who had come in from all corners of the Province to pay their last respects. Read the rest of this entry »


Stellenbosch University gets go ahead for genetically modified grapevines

The University of Stellenbosch has been given the go-ahead by government to grow genetically modified (GM) grapes. Professor Melané Vivier and junior researcher Charmaine Stander of the Institute for Wine Biotechnology show how they grow cultures of the GM grapes in their laboratory at an agricultural science building on campus. Read the rest of this entry »


Mourners gather to pay last respects to community pioneer, Gwebindlala Mkiva – 15 August 2009

People from all walks of life gathered at Bolotwa, Dutwya, in the Eastern Cape, for the funeral of the late social activist and businessman, Gwebindlala Makhonya Mkiva. Mkiva was buried on Saturday, 15 August 2009. Read the rest of this entry »


ANCWL marks women’s month with march and rally

On the 7th August 2009, the ANC Women’s League commemorated the 53rd anniversary of the historic women’s march to the Union Buildings in 1956 by staging a demonstration to call for change in the treatment of women and children in the Western Cape and in South Africa in general. Read the rest of this entry »


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About Oryx Multimedia (Stock Photos and Pictures)

Award winning photojournalist Benny Gool has built up arguably the most definitive collection of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu images. Oryx Multimedia's photo archive spans 25 years of contemporary South African history.

 


© 2010 Oryx Multimedia (Stock Photos and Pictures)