Justice department seeks to shield court officials from cameras after Malema鈥檚 post-sentencing outburst
via The Namibian4 min read
The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development and the National Prosecuting Authority NPA are addressing remarks made by EFF leader Julius Malema following his sentencing in the KuGompo firearm case. Malema's comments, directed at magistrate Twanet Olivier and state advocate Joel Cesar, have prompted concerns about the safety and dignity of judicial officers. The Department of Justice plans to introduce conditions for broadcasting court proceedings, including prohibiting the display of faces of judges, magistrates, and prosecutors. This initiative comes after Malema publicly criticized Olivier, calling her "incompetent" and "a racist," and accused Cesar of arrogance and undermining court processes. The NPA has condemned these statements, which were broadcast live on the EFF's X page, as serious threats and emphasized the need to protect prosecutors, especially given recent killings of prosecutors in the Eastern Cape. Both the department and the NPA have agreed to investigate Malema's comments to determine appropriate action. Malema was released on warning and has been granted leave to appeal his sentence, and he intends to appeal his conviction as well.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
Paratus Namibia is providing satellite internet to the Desert Lion Conservation Trust's DLCT research station at M枚we Bay, located in the Skeleton Coast area, to aid in monitoring Namibia's desert-adapted lions. The DLCT has been tracking these lions in north-western Namibia for two decades, with fewer than 100 believed to remain. These lions traverse extensive areas, including communal farming land, occasionally leading to conflicts with people and livestock. The trust collaborates with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and local partners to mitigate these conflicts and safeguard both the lions and farming communities. The satellite connection at M枚we Bay enables researchers to communicate with field teams, share information, and coordinate conservation efforts. At the base camp, researchers process tracking data from collared lions and maintain contact with lion rangers in areas like Purros and Sesfontein. The tracking system issues alerts when collared lions enter areas where they might encounter livestock, allowing rangers to respond swiftly and prevent conflict. Paratus Group chief development officer Barney Harmse stated that this initiative is about enabling conservation and ensuring the DLCT's work remains vital and effective. DLCT founder Flip Stander emphasized the importance of reliable communication for researchers working in remote areas, stating it allows for coordinated work, effective data management, and support for rangers.
Must ReadThe Namibian government, through the new entity Namibia Air, intends to purchase seven aircraft valued at N$594 million for its planned launch by late 2026. This new airline is set to replace the liquidated Air Namibia, which ceased operations in March 2021. Namibia Air has applied for licenses to operate scheduled and charter flights domestically, across Africa, and internationally. The airline projects a market size of 800,000 round-trip passengers on its domestic and regional routes. To serve this market, the plan includes acquiring four Embraer ERJ 145 jets at an estimated US$3 million each and three Embraer E170 / E175 jets at an estimated US$8 million each. Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi previously stated that a decision on whether to buy or lease aircraft would be made after an economic analysis. Former Air Namibia employees may be considered for employment at Namibia Air if they possess the necessary skills and experience. Proposed scheduled services include routes connecting Windhoek to domestic hubs like Ondangwa, L眉deritz, and Walvis Bay, as well as regional cities such as Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Luanda. The airline will implement dynamic pricing and revenue management. Air Namibia was liquidated due to N$714 million owed to the Namibia Airports Company and accumulated losses exceeding N$10 billion over a decade, leading to significant job losses. Efforts to establish a new national carrier since then, including discussions with Fly Etosha and
Must ReadPresident Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has called for Namibia and South Africa to enhance their economic cooperation by focusing on industrialization, value addition, and regional manufacturing. Speaking at the South Africa-Namibia business forum in Midrand, she emphasized the need to move beyond the traditional trade relationship, which primarily involves Namibia exporting raw materials and importing finished goods. Nandi-Ndaitwah highlighted that this shift is crucial for creating jobs and fostering sustainable economic growth. She noted that South Africa is Namibia's largest trading partner, supplying manufactured goods, machinery, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, and vehicles, while Namibia exports minerals, fish, livestock, and agricultural products. The President identified investment opportunities in Namibia's agriculture, mining, energy, oil and gas, tourism, fisheries, transport, and logistics sectors, supported by infrastructure like the port of Walvis Bay. She also pointed to recent oil and gas discoveries, renewable energy resources, and the green hydrogen program as areas for partnerships with South African investors in clean energy, electricity generation, and battery mineral value chains. Nandi-Ndaitwah urged governments to maintain policy certainty and investor-friendly environments and encouraged businesses to invest in technology, skills development, and regional value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area to reduce poverty and create employment