South African Politics

It finally happened – late last night former president Jacob Zuma handed himself in to the SAPS and spent the first night of his 15-month jail term in a high-security prison in Estcourt. Will his supporters flock to Estcourt and turn the KZN midlands into a feudal war? Jacob Zuma’s motorcade sped out of his Nkandla homestead at about 11.20pm on Wednesday July 7, 2021, heading for a prison in the KwaZulu-Natal town of Estcourt. Minutes before midnight on the same day, Zuma’s foundation announced on Twitter: “Dear South Africans and the World. Please be advised that President Zuma has decided to comply with the incarceration order. He is on his way to hand himself into a Correctional Services Facility in KZN.” The motorcade arrived at the recently refurbished Estcourt Correctional Centre at about 1.20am on July 8. And at …

The life of Charm Govender was celebrated today as his funeral was held in Kharwastan Civic Hall, Chatsworth. Pathasarvasvaran Samotharan Govender (Charm) 09/04/61 – 22/03/21 Charm was born in Durban, the eldest son of Dhanam and Dory Govender. He schooled at the Welbedacht Primary School and Crestview Primary School as well as at the Risecliffe Secondary School in Chatsworth where he completed STd 9 (Grade 11). He completed his A levels in the UK where he was exposed to the work and members of the African National Congress and the SACP. He returned to South Africa in 1978 and thereafter registered at the University of Durban-Westville (now UKZN). He became active in student, community, political and grassroots struggles in Chatsworth, as well as the Greater Durban and KZN area. At the Chatsworth level he worked with highly respected NIC leaders …