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The Expropriation Bill in South Africa, in the works for years, was passed by Parliament on 27 March 2024. The bill, addressing land restitution, had faced debates over the Constitution’s Clause 25. President Ramaphosa recently signed it, potentially sparking tensions within the Government of National Unity.
Johannesburg Water schedules 72-hour water outage from Jan 31 to Feb 3 for valve installation at pump station. Affected areas include City Centre, Southern, Eastern, Northern suburbs, and industrial zones. Residents advised to store water. Rand Water also conducting maintenance. Residents urged to adapt to ongoing water challenges.
Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse on March 10, after a $42 billion bank run, has raised concerns about lending discrimination and disparities in capital for people of color. The bank was known for supporting minority entrepreneurs, but its failure has left many seeking funding alternatives. Industry experts emphasize the need to address systemic racism in banking and lending practices.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa signs law allowing land seizures without compensation, sparking controversy within his government. Black ownership of farmland remains low post-apartheid, leading to frustration. While ANC praises the law as a milestone, some coalition members may challenge it in court. The law permits expropriation without compensation in specific cases deemed just and in the public interest.
Axel Rudakubana, 18, admitted to killing two girls and stabbing 10 others in Southport, England, sparking nationwide rioting. The court heard he was obsessed with violence and genocide, inflicting sadistic injuries. He was sentenced to a minimum of 52 years but could not receive a full life sentence due to his age at the time of the attack. Rudakubana was removed from court twice for shouting he was unwell and refused to hear his sentence.
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Sony is discontinuing production of recordable Blu-rays, MiniDiscs, MD-Data, and MiniDV cassettes in February with no successor models. This decision does not affect pre-recorded Blu-rays. Sony had hinted at this move last year. The company has been a leader in Blu-ray technology since its inception. Other companies like LG, Samsung, and Oppo are also moving away from Blu-ray production. The announcement also impacts Sony’s MiniDisc format introduced in 1992.
M23 rebels kill North Kivu Governor in eastern DR Congo, intensifying conflict with army. Over 400,000 displaced as rebels advance towards Goma, capturing towns and causing civilian casualties. Governor airlifted for treatment but dies from injuries.
The South African Reserve Bank’s Prudential Authority fined Standard Bank South Africa R13 million for FIC Act non-compliance. The PA’s inspection revealed lapses in anti-money laundering measures. SBSA failed to conduct due diligence for two clients in 2018 and 2019, violating FIC Act obligations. The PA imposed administrative sanctions and warned against future breaches.
A 25-year-old woman, believed to be linked to a man arrested for possessing child pornography, was herself arrested in Houghton. Police found an estimated 10 million child sexual abuse images and videos on electronic devices. The woman, a web designer, faces charges of possession of child pornography and money laundering. Further investigations are ongoing.
Experts estimate Ukraine has suffered about half of Russia’s irreplaceable losses in the war, with 62,000 Ukrainian soldier deaths. Russia’s larger population and recruitment help replace losses, allowing them to push forward. Opaque websites Lostarmour.info and UALosses.org track Ukrainian deaths.
