Latest news with #GrandParade
Daily Maverick
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
We must honour Mandela by fighting the corruption in the heart of our democracy
Mandela was a lover and a fighter, a symbol of struggle against oppression and a champion of peace and forgiveness. His bravery in standing up against the evil empire is our bravery. His hope and humour and humanity are ours. It's in us and up to us to stand up against those in Mandela's party, and indeed any political party, who choose to rob us blind. Every year we celebrate Mandela Day on 18 July. It's a global campaign to honour the remarkable life and legacy of the founding father of our democracy, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. The Nelson Mandela Foundation turned Madiba's birthday into a call to action for individuals, communities and organisations, urging them to take time to reflect on Mandela's values and principles and make a positive impact in their own communities. I will never forget the warm, fuzzy feeling I felt when I stood shoulder to shoulder with thousands of people on the Grand Parade in Cape Town in 1990 as Mandela stepped on to the balcony of City Hall and said to all of us: 'I come to you as your servant.' It was the humility and dignity of this stately yet grandfatherly man; it was hearing a voice that had been banned for 27 years speak to our hearts; it was the realisation and the sense of relief that the years of campaigning against apartheid and inequality, risking jail and police batons and death, might just have been worth it. That we may have succeeded in toppling the evil empire of racism, exclusion and violence. And that maybe, just maybe, we could live in freedom. There are many of Mandela's heirs in the ANC and its political party offshoots like the MK party, formed as comrades turned on each other for their time to 'eat', and who have done nothing to build on the tremendous goodwill that we, the South African people, have granted them. The recent allegations by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that a drug cartel based in Gauteng was controlling a high-level criminal syndicate that has the Police Ministry, politicians, prosecutors and judges in its pockets, came as no surprise. Because ever since 1994, more and more comrades have been in cahoots with criminals and gangsters, buying favours and seats at the table. Rot and Cancer We had former police commissioner Jackie Selebi's dalliance with his drug dealer friend, 'finish and klaar' Glenn Agliotti. And the rot and cancer has spread far and wide. The Guptas landed with their bums in bucket-loads of ghee when Jacob Zuma led his family, friends and the ANC into Saxonwold. Judge Raymond Zondo's State Capture chronicles feature a long list of ANC comrades whose fingers were in the trough. Criminality has stretched its tentacles all over the ANC at every centre of government, from local, provincial and national level to parastatals across the country. And when the ANC gets voted out, the criminals find politicians in other parties to cosy up to. It has come to the point where it is hard to trust any politician. We do not know which lobbyist or foreign agency or wealthy person is behind them. Our democracy is a marketplace where favours and influence are sold to the highest bidder. And global druglords who peddle poison to our youth have found ripe pickings in this country that gave Mandela to us and the world. Mandela was a human born of a different era. Our son of the South African soil arrived on 18 July 1918, deep in the era of the colonial conquest that saw the land of indigenous people taken by the minions of the Dutch East India Company and footsoldiers of the British Empire who distributed it to white settler populations. Mandela was a freedom fighter, a leader of the ANC who started the armed struggle and Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) when peaceful protest against apartheid was met with violence. He and his fellow Rivonia triallists' incarceration in the 1960s did not silence their resistance to the apartheid state. Nor could it silence generation after generation of South Africans, from Steve Biko and the Black Consciousness movement to the trade union movement, United Democratic Front, Mass Democratic Movement, Black Sash, Lawyers for Human Rights, Detainees' Parents Support Committee… and ordinary South Africans who stood up, fists clenched against what was wrong. Biko was a proponent of the Black Consciousness philosophy that emphasised the importance of black people freeing ourselves psychologically from the internalised effects of oppression. He urged us to embrace our own identity and take control of our own liberation. For his promotion of self-reliance and resistance to the notion that black people are inferior to white people, he was arrested and murdered in detention. There were others. Millions of others. They belonged to women's groups, churches, temples, artist groups. There were resistance organisations like the New Unity Movement, the Azanian People's Organisation and the Pan-Africanist Congress. Not just the ANC. Not just Mandela. Global icon What drew the world to Mandela and turned him into a global icon was that even though he was a freedom fighter who started MK, he didn't leave Robben Island to sing 'Kill the Boer, kill the farmer' at every opportunity, as ANC protégé and EFF leader Julius Malema does. Nor did he take to every political rally singing Umshini Wami (Bring Me My Machine Gun), as Jacob Zuma does. Mandela was a lover and a fighter, a symbol of struggle against oppression and a champion of peace and forgiveness. His long imprisonment created a powerful narrative of personal sacrifice that humanised the anti-apartheid struggle. On 18 July, and every day, many South Africans give 67 minutes of their time and more to do good — helping others, cleaning cities, caring for neglected children, raising funds for charitable causes in memory of the spirit of Mandela. We are a nation of generous, kind, warm-hearted, freedom-loving people. It is our spirit of resilience and generosity that created Mandela. His bravery in standing up against the evil empire is our bravery. His hope and humour and humanity are ours. It's in us and up to us to stand up against those in Mandela's party, and indeed any political party, who choose to rob us blind. There are no saviours coming to rescue us. In us resides the ability to build the kind of country we deserve. We stand on the shoulders of generations of giants who fought for freedom. It's our turn now. DM
Irish Examiner
7 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Case against Ross Lahive for harassing Cork librarian now likely to go to criminal court
Ross Lahive of The Irish People's Party appeared before Cork District Court on Wednesday on a charge of harassing a librarian at Cork City Library in 2023, arising out of protests about a publication called This Book is Gay appearing on a shelf for teenagers. Covert and open recordings which the accused allegedly made of his interactions with the librarian were posted on his Facebook page, accompanied by comments describing the book as "grooming". Sergeant Gearóid Davis said each of eight videos was accompanied by comments from parties, allegedly including Ross Lahive, variously describing the librarians as the epitome of evil, diabolical and doing Satan's work. After Sgt Davis outlined these and other details forming the context for the harassment charge, Judge William Aylmer asked in clarification: 'The alleged injured party was in the course of her employment in the library.' Sgt Davis said that was so. Judge Aylmer then said: 'I refuse jurisdiction.' The matter will now be sent back to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further directions and the case was adjourned until October 6. It is now anticipated it will end up before Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Diarmuid Kelleher, solicitor, said 46-year-old Ross Lahive, of Church Street, Shandon Street, Cork, was on jobseekers allowance, and an application was made for free legal aid. Judge Aylmer granted this application. The single charge against the defendant states that on dates between February 26 and May 6, 2023, within the State, he harassed a librarian, contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. Sergeant Gearóid Davis said on November 7, 2023, a librarian at Cork City Library made a complaint about a group of persons who were calling to libraries countrywide to complain about a book in stock, called This Book is Gay. She made a specific complaint against a person she described as a spokesperson for the group. 'She outlined incidents between February 26 and May 6, 2023, when Mr Lahive first came to Cork City Library on Grand Parade to voice his objection to the book in question. 'Mr Lahive posted videos to his personal Facebook page of interactions with the library staff, including eight videos where the complainant is clearly visible. 'Of the videos, five were covert recordings he took of the librarian while discussing the book. She also outlined comments which were being posted about her and staff,' Sgt Davis said. The sergeant outlined the commentary on one video, which stated: 'Our group is growing as more are becoming aware of this grooming book. Now, the staff say they feel intimidated. "We feel grooming shouldn't be tolerated. There is even threats of them suing us for exposing this book. We won't stop until that filth is off the shelves.' In the course of other videos with comments posted underneath on the defendant's Facebook page, comments allegedly include: 'Totally biased. All we are doing is exposing grooming. We are extremely troubled by this shocking grooming… "People are not willing to put up with grooming 12-year-old children… Sick-minded individuals given these positions because they are part of the cult… 'Diabolical' is appropriate… Now they say they feel intimidated… She will be exposed before long… What degenerates. 'Went to Cork city library on my own so as not to hurt or overwhelm the staff's feelings. This book is grooming. When I told them I was recording, they were quick to say how immoral I was… These people are hand-picked evil… My blood boils when they try to defend this obscene filth. "They will regret their stance on this before long. Twisted individuals, 100 per cent doing Satan's work… They are the epitome of evil. They are perverts and get off on trying to gaslight the public. I hope she learned a lesson. They are vile enablers. They encourage this filth, knowingly defending the indefensible.'
Irish Examiner
04-07-2025
- Science
- Irish Examiner
Planters replace Cork's controversial 'robotrees' after €444,000 spend
Planters have been installed on the bases of Cork's infamous 'robotrees' in a move city chiefs hope will draw a line under the saga which has cost taxpayers just over €444,000. The planters, complete with colourful floral displays, were placed onto the hexagonal wooden platforms left in situ on St Patrick's St and on the Grand Parade following the removal of robotrees in May. The five 'City Trees' devices, which are designed to improve air quality, had been at the centre of a storm of controversy since they were unveiled in the city more than five years ago. Made and supplied by German firm Green City Solutions, they were unveiled in August 2020 as part of wider post-covid efforts to improve the city centre environment, in the hope that they would remove pollutants from the air by filtering it through a wall of moss. The four-metre high electric-powered devices cost just over €365,000 to buy and install — money covered as part of a €4m funding allocation from the National Transport Authority — but they came with additional annual running and maintenance costs. CLIMATE & SUSTAINABILITY HUB The devices were immediately nicknamed robotrees, with UCC's Centre for Research into Atmospheric Chemistry researcher Dean Venables labelling them 'a costly and ineffectual gimmick', while UCC emeritus professor of chemistry, John Sodeau, described them as a total waste of money. As controversy raged, the council commissioned a performance study on the machines in June 2022 which concluded that they provided 'no consistent evidence for improved air quality' either on the plinth upon which they sat or 'in the immediate environs' of the machines. There was more controversy in June when it emerged that even after that report, the city spent more than €23,000 maintaining the trees in 2023 and 2024. The total spend on the devices had hit €444,000 by the time they were eventually removed from the city in May and placed in storage. Efforts to find someone to take them have failed. Irish Rail had been poised to place them on a platform in Kent Station but pulled out at the last minute for health and safety reasons. Its experts said they could not take devices with flammable material such as wooden slats, and replaced the slats with non-flammable material was not possible. Both the Taoiseach Micheál Martin and former Lord Mayor, Green Party Cllr Dan Boyle, have defended the CityTrees experiment. Read More Cork man jailed for threatening to stab woman and children before stealing car from their driveway
TimesLIVE
28-06-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Springboks batter Baabaas in Cape Town
There were times when this clash did not carry the majesty or grandeur of matches in time honoured Barbarians tradition. The rain that fell on the Grand Parade played a spoiling hand here too but the Springboks kept their powder dry and mustered their champion qualities to thoroughly vanquish the rag-tag visitors. Sure, the rain and accompanying greasy conditions put paid to this match living up to its true festival billing in the first half but through the mist and the drizzle the Springboks, at times viscerally, left no one in doubt they are a team endowed with champion qualities after the break. The first half left the impression that another government sponsored sports wash perhaps got what it deserved from the weeping gods, but the Boks rose above that through their heaven-sent bench in the second half. When the Boks deployed their bench in the 45th minute it did not send tremors around the rugby globe as it did the last time they contested the Qatar Cup. When they humbled the All Blacks in London last year seven hulking forwards were pressed into battle en masse. Nonetheless the impact of the bench was immediately felt on Saturday when replacement prop Jan-Hendrik Wessels dotted down barely two minutes after removing his puffer jacket. That score helped break the dam wall. In the end though it wasn't the Boks' razzmatazz that won the day but their ability to fastidiously stick to script. Their cohesion, particularly up front, ground down the visitors leaving Peter O'Mahony, Sam Cane and others perhaps showing their crusty vintage. The Baabaas at times looked like a team that conceived some of their line-out routines in the bar or conference rooms of Camps Bay's Bay Hotel. As is their staple, the Barbarians were forced to live off scraps. They made little headway as the Boks thud them back in the tackle. With their momentum stunted the odds on them winning this game was as long as the beer queues on this precinct. There were several Boks with a point to prove and almost all did so with aplomb. Lock Lood de Jager cut an influential figure throughout in his first game in the Green and Gold since 2023. De Jager's full restoration to the Bok fold will come as a major boost. His line-out prowess is supreme, while his leg drives in the maul carries weight. It was from his line-out take in the sixth minute that the Boks drove the Barbarians back over their own tryline. Hooker Malcolm Marx was again the grateful beneficiary. That try came on the back of the Barbarians failing to gather the wet ball. Soon after visiting flyhalf Josh Jacomb again dropped the ball to present the Boks a platform from which to launch. The hosts duly did and though they appeared hemmed in by the defence Aphelele Fassi's deft toe prod gave Cheslin Kolbe something of the chase. He scored en route to a man of the match performance. No.8 Jean-Luc du Preez, another long-time absentee from the Boks ranks, was full of honest endeavour. Perhaps predictably given the conditions, flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu delivered a mixed bag. Scrumhalf Morne van den Berg's intelligent use of the boot caged the Barbarians inside their own territory, while replacement Cobus Reinach injected energy and purpose after the break. Kurt-Lee Arendse was typically hawkish in eyeing opportunity, Kolbe played as if fit with all-weather tyres, while Fassi was full of the lustre that has characterised his season. Kolbe was electrifying in the second half. The visitors' scrum infractions started to mount in the first half as the trimmed down tight head prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye made his presence felt in Bok colours. The Boks however did not maintain their grip in that facet and the tourists grew stronger as the first half wore on. Melvyn Jaminet opened the visitors' score in the 65th minute but by then the tourists' baabaalas was well in the making.
Irish Examiner
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Thousands take part in Cork's Eucharistic Procession amid 'a very uncertain world'
Thousands of people took part in the annual Eucharistic Procession in Cork City on Sunday, with many saying that the world has become such a dangerous place, more people will turn to God in the uncertain days ahead. This was echoed by the Bishop of Cork and Ross Fintan Gavin before he led the ceremony which got underway at Cathedral of Saint Mary and Saint Anne, also known as the North Cathedral. Bishop Gavin said he'd noticed an increase in those attending the event in recent years. A sea of faithful wound their way through the streets of Cork as the 2025 Eucharistic Procession unfolded, continuing a tradition that has united generations of worshippers. Picture: Chani Anderson He told the Irish Examiner that waking up on Sunday morning to news that US president Trump had ordered the US Air Force to bomb nuclear sites in Iran had no doubt made a lot of people feel uneasy. People from parishes across the city and county took part in the 2025 Cork Eucharistic Procession, which made its way from the North Cathedral through the historic streets of Cork to the Grand Parade, where Mass was celebrated in the open air. Picture: Chani Anderson The bishop said ordinary people are seeking out the higher power of God as they are looking for 'security, purpose, and meaning in a very uncertain world". A large proportion of those who took part in the procession were Catholic immigrants to the country. There was also a notable presence of younger Irish-born people. Faithful Catholics gathered in great numbers along the Grand Parade for the concluding Mass of the Cork Eucharistic Procession 2025. Picture: Chani Anderson For Indian-born Sabidha Matha, her husband, Joseph, and their two children, Anlive and Asmin, it was their first time at the procession. Sabidha, a nurse at CUH, said the family moved to Ireland two years ago. She said: More people are looking to God as the world is such an unsafe place now. The Russian invasion of Ukraine, Israel's brutal suppression of Palestinians in Gaza, and now its attacks on Iran being joined by the US are making people pray harder for global peace, people said. 'Everything is so confusing, everything is going wrong with the world with these wars,' said Patricia Campbell from Carrigaline who was attending the event for the third time. Altar servers and clergy from the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne — 'the North Cathedral' — led the way as Bishop Fintan Gavin carried the Eucharist through Cork City towards the altar set up on the Grand Parade. Picture: Chani Anderson George Feeney, 19, from Kinsale was leading the 25-strong 1st Cork Scout Troop in the procession. It was also his third time at the religious ceremony. 'I think there is a resurgence in trust of the church amongst younger people,' he said. Dia Enodio, who is originally from the Philippines, came along with her two children Adiel, eight, and Biel, six. People from parishes across city and county took part in the 2025 Cork Eucharistic Procession. Picture: Chani Anderson Her family came to Ireland two years ago and they live in Tower, near Blarney. She pointed out that the Philippines is one of the world's most Catholic countries and so the transition to Ireland is great for her 'because we have so many churches we can go to here". People from all over Cork city and county wending their way through the streets of Cork for the 2025 Eucharistic Procession. Picture: Chani Anderson Terry McCarthy came down from Farranree to attend the parade. He said he'd been for the past two years after a gap of about 10 years. Prior to that he was a regular at it. He said: The world is now a very frightening place and anything could happen. I imagine a lot of people are turning to God because of this. The procession, led by the Butter Exchange Band, left the cathedral at 3pm making its way down Cathedral Street, Roman Street, through Mulgrave Road, onto Pope's Quay and over the Christy Ring Bridge. The faithful gathered along the Grand Parade in Cork City for the concluding Mass of the Cork Eucharistic Procession 2025, marking one of the city's oldest annual religious events. Picture: Chani Anderson From there it progressed along Academy Street, into Patrick Street and onto Grand Parade, where for the first time in its 99-year history it stopped at a specially constructed altar in front of the National Monument. Many more were waiting there and the participants prayed, listened to the liturgy and benediction, which was celebrated by Bishop Gavin. The annual Eucharistic Procession passing through St Patrick's Street, Cork in 1928. Picture: Irish Examiner Archive Crowd estimates varied from 3,500 to around 4,000. Next year crowds are expected to be even bigger as it will mark the 100th anniversary of the first procession. That took place in 1926 and was designed in the main part to heal divisions brought about by the Civil War. That parade was attended by tens of thousands of people.
