Not true that SA soldiers were held hostage in Sudan – SANDF


Johannesburg – The SA National Defence Force on Tuesday reacted with “utter dismay” to reports that its troops in Sudan where “held hostage” during a court bid to have President Omar al-Bashir arrested while he was in South Africa.

“There is no iota of truth in these allegations. There is equally no substance to support these allegations. The SANDF did not come under any threat during this period,” it said in a statement.
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Zuma celebrates young achievers at Youth Day event


Pretoria – From a 20-year-old doctor to an 18-year-old pilot, South Africa has a good story to tell when it comes to its youth.

This is according to President Jacob Zuma, who was speaking at the commemoration of Youth Day in Tshwane on Tuesday.

“While working to solve all the problems affecting young people, we are also celebrating the achievements of our youth.”
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Youth of 1976 also commemorated by AU – Zuma


Pretoria – The African Union also commemorates Youth Day across the continent as the “Day of the African Child”, President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday.

“The AU designated this day in memory of heroism of South African youth on June 16. The day is used to highlight the rights of the African child,” he said.

He was speaking at a Youth Day event in Tshwane.
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Nkandla not ANC’s greatest crime – Maimane


Port Elizabeth – The African National Congress’s greatest crime is not Nkandla, but a poor education system, Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane said on Tuesday.

“The ANC’s greatest crime is not Nkandla, it is the fact that they have failed the education system of South Africa. It is a crime that on June 16, 21 years later, our education is considered one of the worst in the world,” he said at a Youth Day event at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
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1976 youth did not fight for drugs and sex – Malema


Polokwane – The 1976 generation did not fight for young people to be drug and alcohol addicts or engage in unprotected sex, Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema told a Youth Day rally near Polokwane on Tuesday.

“The 1976 generation of youth never fought for the youth to smoke drugs and abuse alcohol, or for you to sleep with each other without a condom,” Malema told thousands of EFF supporters at the University of Limpopo’s Turfloop campus.
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Al-Bashir must rot in jail – Malema


Polokwane – EFF leader Julius Malema says his party will persuade other African states to make an about-turn on Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, ensuring he “rots in jail”.

Malema was speaking at his party’s Youth Day commemoration in Limpopo.

Al-Bashir flew out of South Africa on Monday before the North Gauteng High Court ruled that he should be arrested on the warrant issued by the ICC.
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Tutu bemoans Bashir entry into SA


Johannesburg – Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu said on Tuesday that some of the most powerful nations’ refusal to comply with the International Criminal Court had created an environment for South Africa to allow Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir into, and out of, the country.

“These powerful nations have created the rationale for the South African government to allow al-Bashir into the country despite the international warrant of arrest hanging over his head, and then to allow him to travel home despite a South African High Court order to the contrary,” said a statement issued by his foundation.
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