South Africa Roundup: Stranded tourists , footballer killed, Gaza genocide

Stranded tourists on Sao Tome and Principe island

Eight tourists, including a pregnant woman, were left stranded on the African island of Sao Tome and Principe after their cruise ship departed without them. They had to make their way through several countries to catch up with the ship. The group encountered language barriers, currency issues, and complicated travel. They are now considering whether to return to the cruise after the incident. According to Sky News, the cruise ship, Norwegian Dawn left the shores of Cape Town, South Africa on March 20 for a 21-day trip up the coast of Africa and was set to end in Barcelona, Spain, on 10 April. The ship had aboard six tourists from the US and two from Australia.

Colombia fights Israel alongside South Africa

Colombia has formally intervened in the case filed by South Africa against Israel for alleged genocide in the Gaza Strip. The intervention is to assist the court in interpreting the provisions of the Genocide Convention, Morocco World News reports. The situation in Gaza is dire, with widespread death and destruction. South Africa's application alleges that Israel has committed acts punishable under the Convention. Public hearings have been held, and the Court has requested provisional measures. On the other hand, Israel has been warring the Gaza Strip since October 27, 2023.

South African speaker arrested

Former South African speaker of parliament, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, was arrested on bribery allegations on April 4, 2024. She is accused of receiving $135,000 in bribes. She, however, maintains her innocence, claiming the charges are politically motivated. News Shopper, further reports that Mapisa-Nqakula resigned from her position and was released on bail of 50,000 rand. Her case has been postponed to June 4, and prosecutors plan to add another defendant. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula is the fifth female speaker of parliament for South Africa and had been serving in that capacity since August 2021 until she resigned on April 3, 2024.

British nationals push for whitest state's independence

A Brexit-inspired campaign led by a British national is seeking independence for the Western Cape province in South Africa. The movement, led by Briton Phil Craig, aims to imitate Brexit and is gaining traction, despite criticism from the left-wing Economic Freedom Fighters party. The Democratic Alliance party, which currently controls the Western Cape, is hesitant about leading an independent province, citing concerns about sustainability and unity in South Africa. The Western Cape is ethnically unique and is the second richest province in South Africa. Despite wanting closed borders, the movement claims to be committed to non-racialism. Many South Africans see the idea as a desire to separate the wealthiest from the rest. SA Today reports that about 27, 000 citizens of the country have signed a petition to deport Briton Phil Craig for fighting for an imperial era.

Former footballer killed

Police officials have confirmed the tragic death of Luke Fleurs, a former South Africa junior international and player for Kaizer Chiefs, in an attempted hijacking in Johannesburg. The 24-year-old was tragically shot in the chest on the night of April 4, 2024, at a petrol station, and the perpetrators fled the scene in his vehicle. According to Aljazeera, Luke Fleurs, the centre-back, showcased his talent by playing every minute for South Africa during the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2021. That same year, he earned a call-up to the senior team for World Cup qualifiers against Ethiopia, but despite being named, he remained on the bench and remained uncapped.