WORLD LEADERS TAKE DRASTIC MEASURES IN RESPONSE TO NEW OMICRON VARIANT
On Friday 26 November, the World Health Organisation (WHO) designated the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529 – named ‘Omicron’ – a variant of concern, based on the advice of WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on Virus Evolution (TAG-VE), who found that Omicron has several mutations that may impact its behaviour. While the variant is commonly dubbed “the South…
JUST A MINUTE: MAURITIUS, JULY RIOTS AND BRAAI DAY
by Gustav Krös A few years ago, my parents had the privilege of visiting the island of Mauritius. During one of their tourist activities, they were in a group with people from various countries. Among all the countries represented in this group, it was my parents and six black ladies from South Africa. I specifically…
PERU GRAPPLES WITH PANDEMIC’S SECONDARY IMPACTS ON CHILDREN
On 17 August, Peru’s COVID-19-related cumulative death toll increased to 197,487. Peru has the world’s highest number of COVID-19 deaths per capita. Poverty, high levels of informal labour, and intergenerational housing have contributed to the high rate of COVID-19 transmission. In July, The Lancet published a study focusing on the impact of adult deaths on…
MOZAMBIQUE GAINS GROUND AGAINST INSURGENTS, WITH HELP OF SADC FORCES
Troops from several southern African nations, fighting alongside Mozambican forces, have taken back control of four towns from Islamic insurgent groups in Northern Mozambique, including the strategic town of Awasse. After previously refusing international help, Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi welcomed help from Rwanda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and others in the fight against insurgents who…
THE SPIRITUAL BATTLE FOR SOUTH AFRICA
By Gustav Krös and Donnelly McCleland The convulsions of civil unrest in parts of South Africa have not yet fully abated, and the extent of the destruction and upheaval will be felt by communities for a long time after calm is finally restored. Many opinions have been offered for the wanton violence and destruction. Numerous…
14 JULY ’21 | PRAY FOR SOUTH AFRICA
Dear prayer partners, On Monday 12 July, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation concerning the civil unrest in parts of the country following the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma on Wednesday (7 July), for contempt of court. The unrest, which began in Zuma’s home province of KwaZulu-Natal, spread to Gauteng over the…
30 JUNE ’21 | PRAY FOR COVID-19 ‘HOTSPOT’ NATIONS
Dear prayer partners, On Friday 25 June, the World Health Organisation (WHO) expressed their concern about the Delta variant of COVID-19. The Delta variant was first identified in India in April 2021 and is considered to be more contagious than other variants. However, whether it causes more severe disease has not yet been confirmed. The…
SOUTH AFRICA’S PROPOSED ‘PEPUDA’ AMENDMENT BILL RAISES CONCERNS
By Katelin Coetzee South Africa’s Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJ) recently published the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 4 of 2000 (known as PEPUDA, or the “Equality Act”) Amendment Bill, for public comment. PEPUDA was legislated in 2000 to give effect to section 9 of South Africa’s Constitution, addressing…
JUST A MINUTE: LOVING JEWS AND PALESTINIANS
by Gustav Krös One of the major news stories over the past month in South Africa has been the ongoing story of Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng and his love for the Jewish people and Israel. For those living outside South Africa, here follows a brief summary of the events: The Chief Justice of South Africa,…
14 OCTOBER ’20 | PRAY FOR SOUTH AFRICA
Dear prayer partners, On Saturday 10 October, hundreds of protesters gathered at South Africa’s Union Buildings, to raise awareness of farm killings – calling on the government and police to act against the perpetrators – and to pray. The demonstration follows the brutal death of 21-year-old Brendin Horner on a farm in Paul Roux, in…