South Africa

CAPE TOWN, July 8 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Parliament vowed on Monday to do all in its power to stem illegal farm invasions as the country is pursuing a controversial land reform.

"We must do all in our power to stem illegal farm invasions and ensure that such acts of criminality do not derail the legitimate process of restitution, nor cause hardship and suffering to the rightful beneficiaries of such claims," said Nkosi Mandela, chairperson of Parliament's Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Committee.

Johannesburg, May 25 (PTI) Cyril Ramaphosa, the head of the African National Congress, was sworn in for a five-year term as South Africa's president on Saturday after being elected unopposed by Parliament following the sixth general elections this month.

Ramaphosa, 66, swore allegiance to the Constitution in the presence of thousands of dignitaries and citizens at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in the capital, Pretoria - after being voted unopposed in a process overseen by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng as the country's leader in the National Assembly this week.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger was assaulted during a public appearance in South Africa on Saturday, but the 71-year-old quickly recovered and said, “I’m just glad the idiot didn’t interrupt my Snapchat.”

Video shows the former California governor standing and filming children at a sporting event in Johannesburg when a man makes a flying kick into his back. Schwarzenegger stumbles forward. The man is quickly grabbed by security. Off camera a man shouts several times “Help me!”

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa’s president on Sunday vowed to purge his party of “bad and deviant tendencies” as he prepares to appoint a new Cabinet following a victory in national elections.

The 57% share of the vote was the worst-ever election showing for the African National Congress, which has ruled since the harsh apartheid system of racial discrimination ended 25 years ago. The party won 62% of the vote in 2014.

10 May 2019; AFP: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's ruling ANC was in touching distance of election victory Friday but with diminished support, complicating efforts to revive the country's flagging economy and fight corruption, results showed.

The African National Congress (ANC), in power since 1994, held a very comfortable lead with nearly 57 percent after four-fifths of voting districts were officially tallied following Wednesday's vote.

9 May 2019; AFP: South Africa's ANC surged into the lead in early official results Thursday with 55 percent of the vote in the first electoral test of President Cyril Ramaphosa's bid to reinvigorate the ruling party.

With just over a fifth of voting districts tallied, the Election Commission put the African National Congress well ahead, with its closest rival the Democratic Alliance trailing with a distant 26 percent.

Johannesburg, May 8 (AFP) South Africans go to the polls on Wednesday in national elections which the ruling ANC party, in power since 1994, is the favourite to win despite corruption scandals and sluggish economic growth and record unemployment.

The ANC has won all the past five elections, but Wednesday's vote is set to be an electoral test on whether the party has staunched a decline in popularity.

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — At 24, Abetse Mashigo was born a year after South Africa’s brutal apartheid system was dismantled. Yet she still feels frustrated by what she sees as continued economic inequality for its people.

And that will be on her mind as she and others vote May 8 to elect a president and parliament.

“South Africa is a great country, but it has many shortfalls,” Mashigo said, flicking her dreadlocks back with a flourish . “Seeing the spectrum of both wealthy and poor, it’s a constant everyday struggle.”

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa’s political parties on Saturday swept into the final weekend of campaigning ahead of Wednesday’s election in which the ruling African National Congress might find its greatest challenge from within.

Twenty-five years after the racist apartheid system ended, the party of the late Nelson Mandela is shaken by corruption allegations that toppled a president last year.

KWA-THEMA, South Africa (AP) — Sporting a lively array of colorful outfits, about 3,500 South Africans attended celebrations on Saturday in Kwa-Thema township, east of Johannesburg, on Freedom Day, the public holiday marking the 25th anniversary of the end of apartheid.

Many wore the bright yellow, green and black colors of the African National Congress, the ruling party of the late Nelson Mandela that played a crucial role in the struggle that ended the brutal system of racial discrimination. Other people wore traditional outfits.