Inside South Africa's 'ruthless' gang-controlled gold mines

Along with about 600 other men, Ndumiso lives and works in a small gang-controlled "town" - complete with markets and a red light district - that has grown up deep underground at a disused gold mine in South Africa. Ndumiso told the BBC that after being laid off by a big mining firm, he decided to join the gang in its underground world to become what is known as a "zama zama", an illegal miner. He digs for the precious metal and surfaces every three months or so to sell it on the black market for a huge profit, earning more than he ever did before - though the risks now are far higher.

South Africa-based Benchmark Foundation researcher David van Wyk, who has studied the industry, said there were about 6,000 abandoned mines in the country. There are tens of thousands of illegal miners in South Africa, with Mr Van Wyk saying they number about 36,000 alone in Gauteng province - the country's economic heartland, where gold was first discovered in the 19th Century.

"Some carry pistols, shotguns and semi-automatic weapons to protect themselves from rival gangs of miners," it added. Ndumiso told the BBC that he did own a pistol, but he also paid his gang a monthly "protection fee" of about $8. Its heavily armed guards fend off threats, especially from Lesotho gangs reputed to have more lethal firepower, he said.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yx9gwweeeo

Solidarity Movement reaches settlement with government at Nedlac over BELA

The Solidarity Movement, with Solidarity and AfriForum counting among its institutions, has reached a settlement with the government at Nedlac over the BELA dispute. The parties to the dispute at Nedlac were Solidarity, the Presidency and the Minister of Basic Education. Nedlac has confirmed that the dispute has been resolved.

In terms of the settlement, the controversial sections in the BELA Act will no longer be implemented on 13 December.

https://www.artikels.afriforum.co.za/en/solidarity-movement-reaches-settlement-with-government-at-nedlac-over-bela/

📝 An Afrikaner trade union successfully pressured the South African government into removing the clauses of a new law that targeted white Afrikaans schools

@saffercentral2

2nd last one though 😳

Sannie Steyn (80s) was kidnapped from a farm near Hendrina, Mpumalanga province, after her son was murdered on Thursday night.

The 80-something-year-old now needs to undergo an operation to repair a broken shoulder she sustained during the violent kidnapping.

Her shoulder was broken when the kidnappers forced her into her murdered son's Haval suv.

Mrs Steyn's husband, Piet Steyn also in his 80s, was found alive in the trunk of a car parked on the farm. His hands and feet were bound with cable ties.

Her son, Nico Steyn (45), was attacked when he went to switch on a water pump on the Bosmanspan farm around 5 PM, near Hendrina.

[PAYWALL]
https://www.netwerk24.com/netwerk24/nuus/misdaad/plaasaanval-bejaarde-vrou-moet-operasie-kry-na-angsnag-met-ontvoerders-20241201

South Africa officially assumes G20 presidency

South Africa on Sunday officially assumed the presidency of the G20, with President Cyril Ramaphosa saying it is a significant day for his country. South Africa is the first African country to lead the group of powerful nations.

“The G20 is an important formation. Our economy is rather small but we are part of the G20, so we are hitting way above our own weight by dint of the positioning we have in the world, and also the many positions we have taken and strength of our economy as well,’’ Ramaphosa told reporters in Thabazimbi in the northern Limpopo province.

He said the countries of the G20 account for about 75% of the world trade, making them an important bloc of countries that South Africa will be leading for a year.

Ramaphosa also said they will closely work with the US and President-elect Donald Trump, as Washington will assume the G20 presidency in 2026.

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/south-africa-officially-assumes-g20-presidency/3410364

📝 South Africa will host the annual 2025 G20 Summit in Johannesburg

SA says no plans to develop a common Brics currency

South Africa’s government said there are no plans to create a so-called Brics currency, after US President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose 100% tariffs on members of the economic bloc that back the creation of an alternative to the US dollar.

“Recent misreporting has led to the incorrect narrative that Brics is planning to create a new currency,” South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, known as Dirco, said in a statement. “This is not the case. The discussions within Brics focus on trading among member countries using their own national currencies.”

https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/south-africa/sa-says-no-plans-to-develop-a-common-brics-currency/