Latest news with #Lesotho
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Trump Can Rewrite the Narrative of America in Africa
In Africa, as in many other parts of the world, Donald Trump's policies have made him the embodiment of the pejorative stereotype of the ugly American – ignorant, arrogant and dangerous. He destroyed the 25-year-old African Growth and Opportunity Act, which granted African products duty-free entry to the US, imposing punishing tariffs on the continent. He canceled billions of dollars in aid, worth $12.7 billion in 2024. He angered African leaders with his White House ambush of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. And he's ramped up his previous insults against African nations by belittling countries such as Lesotho, an impoverished kingdom of 2.3 million, while nearly obliterating its economy with tariffs of 50%, the highest initially slapped on any country globally. Nevertheless, the US president has an opportunity to change the narrative without reversing any of the measures he's taken against Africa. Following their May 21 brawl, Ramaphosa announced that after months of proclaiming that neither he nor his officials would participate in the Johannesburg G-20 meetings this year, Trump will attend the all-important November summit after all.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
South Africa illegal mining: The hunt for alleged Stilfontein kingpin Tiger
Nobody in South Africa seems to know where Tiger 42-year-old from neighbouring Lesotho, whose real name is James Neo Tshoaeli, has evaded a police manhunt for the past four after being accused of controlling the illegal operations at an abandoned gold mine near Stilfontein in South Africa, where 78 corpses were discovered underground in January, Tiger escaped custody, police policemen, alleged to have aided his breakout, are out on bail and awaiting trial, but the authorities appear no closer to learning the fugitive's went to Lesotho to find out more about this elusive man and to hear from those affected by the subterranean home is near the city of Mokhotlong, a five-hour drive from the capital, Maseru, on the road that skirts the nation's mountains. We visit his elderly mother, Mampho Tshoaeli, and his younger brother, Tiger, Thabiso decided to stay at home and rear sheep for a living, rather than join the illegal miners, known as zama zamas, in South of them has seen Tiger in eight years."He was a friendly child to everyone," Ms Tshoaeli recalls. "He was peaceful even at school, his teachers never complained about him. So generally, he was a good person," she five years younger than Tiger, says they both used to look after the family sheep when they were children."When we were growing up he wanted to be a policeman. That was his dream. But that never happened because, when our father passed away, he had to become the head of the family."Tiger, who was 21 at the time, decided to follow in his father's footsteps and headed to South Africa to work in a mine - but not in the formal sector."It was really hard for me," says his mother. "I really felt worried for him because he was still fragile and young at that time. Also because I was told that to go down into the mine, they used a makeshift lift."He would come back when he got time off or for Christmas. And during that first stint as a zama zama his mother said he was the family's main provider."He really supported us a lot. He was supporting me, giving me everything, even his siblings. He made sure that they had clothes and food."The last time his family saw or heard from him was in 2017 when he left Lesotho with his then wife. Shortly after, the couple separated."I thought maybe he'd remarried, and his second wife wasn't allowing him to come back home," she says sadly."I've been asking: 'Where is my son?'"The first time I heard he was a zama zama at Stilfontein, I was told by my son. He came to my house holding his phone and he showed me the news on social media and explained that they were saying he escaped from the police." The police say several illegal miners described him as one of the Stilfontein ring mother does not believe he could have been in this position and says seeing the coverage of him has been upsetting."It really hurts me a lot because I think maybe he will die there, or maybe he has died already, or if he's lucky to come back home, maybe I won't be here. I'll be among the dead."A friend of Tiger's from Stilfontein, who only wants to be identified as Ayanda, tells me they used to share food and cigarettes before supplies dwindled. He also casts doubt on the "ringleader" label, saying that Tiger was more middle management."He was a boss underground, but he's not a top boss. He was like a supervisor, someone who could manage the situation where we were working."Mining researcher Makhotla Sefuli thinks it was unlikely that Tiger was at the top of the illegal mining syndicate in Stilfontein. He says those in charge never work underground."The illegal mining trade is like a pyramid with many tiers. We always pay attention to the bottom tier, which is the workers. They are the ones who are underground."But there is a second layer… they supply cash to the illegal miners."Then you've got the buyers… they buy [the gold] from those who are supplying cash to the illegal miners."At the top are "some very powerful" people, with "close proximity to top politicians". These people make the most money, but do not get their hands dirty in the mines. Supang Khoaisanyane was one of those at the bottom of the pyramid and he paid with his 39-year-old's body was among those discovered in the disused gold mine in January. He, like many of the others who perished, had migrated to South into his village, Bobete, in the Thaba-Tseka district, feels like stepping back in journey there is full of crossing a rickety bridge barely wide enough to hold our car, we are faced with a long drive up unpaved mountain roads with no safety than once it feels likely we will not make it to the when we do, the scenery is pristine. Seemingly untouched by of small, thatched huts, their walls made from mountain stone, dot the rolling green hills. Right next door to the late Supang's family home is the unfinished house he was building for his wife and three children. Unlike most of the dwellings in the village, the house is made of cement, but it is missing a roof, windows and empty spaces are an unintentional memorial to a man who wanted to help his family."He left the village because he was struggling," his aunt Mabolokang Khoaisanyane tells me. Next to her Supang's wife and one of his children lay down on a mattress on the floor, staring sadly into space."He was trying to find money in Stilfontein, to feed his family, and to put some roofing on his house," Ms Khoaisanyane house was built with money raised from a previous work trip to South Africa by Supang - a trip that many of those from Lesotho have made over the decades drawn by the opportunities of the much richer aunt adds that before he left the second time, three years ago, his job prospects at home were non-existent."It's very terrible here, that's why he left. Because here all you can do is work on short government projects. But you work for a short time and then that's it."This landlocked country - entirely surrounded by South Africa - is one of the poorest in the world. Unemployment stands at 30% but for young people the rate is almost 50%, according to official family say they did not realise he was working as a zama zama until a relative called them to say he had died thought he had been working in construction and had not heard from him since he left Bobete in Khoaisanyane says that during the phone call, they were told that what caused the deaths of most of those underground in Stilfontein was a lack of food and water. Many of the more than 240 who were rescued came out very made global headlines late last year when the police implemented a controversial new strategy to crack down on illegal restricted the flow of food and water into the mine in an attempt to "smoke out" the workers, as one South African minister put January, a court order forced the government to launch a rescue operation. Supang's family say they understand what he was doing was illegal but they disagree with how the authorities dealt with the situation."They tortured these people with hunger, not allowing food and medication to be sent down. It makes us really sad that he was down there without food for that long. We believe this is what ended his life," his aunt dead miner's family have finally received his body and buried him near his half-finished Tiger's mother and brother are still waiting for news about him. The South African police say the search continues, though it is not clear if they have got any closer to finding him. More BBC stories from South Africa: BBC uncovers child sex abuse in South Africa's illegal minesUnpacking the South African land law that so inflames TrumpRebuked by Trump but praised at home: How Ramaphosa might gain from US showdownTragic story of South African girl sold by her mother Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Lesotho's health system has been decimated by US funding cuts
In March, Lesotho's health minister Selibe Mochoborane boldly stated that the country's HIV response will survive without support from the US. The US model was ' too expensive ', he said, and methods would have to be adapted 'to align with our available resources". He was confident that Lesotho would still reach its ambitious HIV prevention and treatment targets by 2030. But senior health officials seemed less confident while presenting to Parliament's portfolio committee on pandemics last week. 'When you cut community HIV prevention services, you inevitably increase new infections,' said Tapiwa Turambiswa, who manages the Ministry of Health's HIV/Aids programmes. Pepfar distributes its funds in Lesotho via the United States Agency for International Development (USAid) and the US Center for Disease Control (CDC). Turambisa said that 93% of USAid's funding and 6% from the CDC has been cut. In total, funding from USAid and the CDC has been slashed from about R1.4bn to R600m. 652 frontline workers have lost their jobs due to the cuts. The country has lost 60% of its counsellors who were providing HIV testing services, said Turambiswa. This will decrease the number of people tested, increasing the number of people unknowingly spreading the virus, he said. In August last year, 11,702 people were tested but in April this year, only 9,054 were tested. Llang Mamma, the ministry's national TB programme manager, said that many people diagnosed with TB are not being tested for HIV as per government policy, because of staff shortages. 'That means we will delay detection of new infections and related treatment,' Maama said. Donor-dependent Of the country's M2.2bn (one loti, M, is equal to one rand, R) health budget last year, only M278m was funded by the government. Almost all of this is spent on antiretroviral medicines (ARVs). The remainder of the health budget comes from international donors. This includes programmes for HIV prevention, treatment and other supportive services. USAid and the CDC accounted for more than half the health budget last year, with the Global Fund contributing more than a fifth of the budget. Pepfar is a major contributor to the Global Fund. Terminated programmes HIV prevention services have been the worst affected by US aid cuts. M212.4m in USAid funds were earmarked for the SECURE project – an HIV prevention programme in 10 districts that included condom distribution, voluntary medical male circumcision, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), said Turambiswa. A M168m project called Bophelo Bo Botle, supporting more than 120,000 people on ARVs was also terminated, despite a waiver protecting Pepfar's life-saving programmes, said Turambiswa. 'This is a treatment and care project whereby the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation deployed doctors, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists, counsellors, and the whole comprehensive list of human resources, putting them into ART clinics to see patients,' he said. A M78m project that was going to introduce long-acting PrEP injections, MOSAIC, was also ended. M90m for mental health and M77m for primary healthcare has also been cut. 'We have also lost support for pharmacy regulation, surveillance activities like mortality and drug resistance monitoring, community-led monitoring, and all quality assurance systems,' Turambiswa said. TB response falters The funding crisis is also derailing Lesotho's fight against TB, said Maama. While drugs and test kits are still available, outreach programmes have been put on hold. The World Health Organisation's Global TB Report 2024 estimates Lesotho's TB incidence at 664 cases per 100,000 people. About half of TB patients are also HIV-positive. Maama now warns that the situation is deteriorating. The Global Fund recently froze M19-million and suspended the full-scale rollout of its TB programme pending a funding model re-evaluation. 'We were scaling up community services to find every Mosotho with TB,' she said. She added that the freeze likely means a permanent loss even though the Global Fund used the word 'pause'. One suspended initiative, worth M4m, was set to upgrade TB wards in Mohale's Hoek and Leribe to serve as regional referral centres for drug-resistant TB.
IOL News
2 days ago
- General
- IOL News
What happened to the maternal love?
Keneilwe Shalaba and her co-accused, a Lesotho National Sangoma, Sebokoana Khounyana, 50, appeared at the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates' Court on charges of premeditated murder and human trafficking of a two-year-old Kutlwano Shalaba. On May 11th, South Africa took a moment to celebrate and remember mothers, acknowledging the comfort, care, and boundless love that mothers embody. Those fortunate enough to have experienced this special maternal love should indeed treasure those memories. However, the recent news surrounding two deeply disturbing cases stands in stark contrast to this sentiment. A six-year-old girl and a two-year-old boy became victims in profoundly troubling ways. Keneilwe Shalaba, the mother of the two-year-old, Kutlwano, appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court this week, accused of selling her son for R75 000. Tragically, Kutlwano, who had been missing since November of last year despite extensive searches, was found dead last week. A traditional healer is also expected to be implicated in this heartbreaking case. Adding to this sorrow is the case of six-year-old Joshlin Smith, who disappeared from her Saldanha Bay home on February 19, 2024. The court revealed that Joshlin was reportedly sold for R20 000. Her mother, Racquel ''Kelly'' Smith, along with her boyfriend and a family acquaintance, were found guilty in the Western Cape High Court and received life sentences. While justice may have been served in this instance, Joshlin herself remains missing. These cases, along with the countless others where children have suffered such fates at the hands of their mothers, are deeply distressing. While some commentators attribute these acts to poverty, it's important to remember the countless mothers who make immense sacrifices to provide for their children, working tirelessly in difficult conditions to ensure their well-being. We heard stories of mothers who sell toasted corn by the street corner to support their kids; and mothers walk the streets in the blazing sun, selling tripe, just to make sure that their children don't go to bed on an empty stomach. Ultimately, it seems that greed, with money as the driving force, lies at the heart of these unthinkable crimes.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Mothers fight to protect children from drugs as ‘hotspotting' takes hold in Lesotho
Pontso Tumisi remembers seeing crystal meth for the first time in her daughter's bedroom several years ago. When her daughter said the crystals were bath salts, she believed her. Now, she regrets that naivety. Tumisi says a lack of knowledge about drugs among parents and guardians has allowed many children's use of dangerous substances to go undetected. Amplifying the risks inherent in drug-taking is 'bluetoothing' or 'hotspotting', which involves drawing the blood of an intoxicated person and injecting into others to share the high – a trend that's been seen in several countries over the past few years, including Zimbabwe and South Africa. In Lesotho, hotspotting usually involves crystal meth, which has become one of the most common drugs in urban areas. Lesotho has one of the highest HIV rates in the world, and as Tumisi points out, bluetoothing increases the risk of spreading the virus as well as other blood-borne diseases. Tumisi, 45, is now a public relations officer for Mokhosi oa Mangoana (A Mother's Cry), a women's organisation spearheading the fight against substance abuse in Lesotho, a landlocked country surrounded by South Africa, where half the population live below the poverty line. 'You would be shocked what parents are doing for their children out of love but unknowingly aiding substance abuse. Some are made to purchase different items and substances under the pretext of learning materials,' Tumisi says. 'Young children are using drugs in plain sight because parents and guardians have no information about harmful substances. Parents are buying their children things like meth pipes thinking they are for school, and hookahs and vapes, which are all harmful, thinking they're fashionable. 'When they think of drugs, they think of the smell of marijuana, but the bulk of substances used nowadays don't have such distinct smells. Some are edibles and they look just like sweets.' While there are no official statistics on drug abuse in Lesotho, Mphonyane Mofokeng, founder of the Anti-Drug Abuse Association of Lesotho (Adaal), says a recent study by the Heal Our Land Organisation showed that 68% of high school pupils had used illicit substances. The study was carried out in the northern region of the country, which includes the capital, Maseru. 'This is proof enough of the high magnitude of substance use among young people in Lesotho,' says Mofokeng. One parent told Adaal that her child started 'hotspotting' during the school holidays. 'Due to the shocking statistics and the harm that children are exposing themselves to through hotspotting, we are stepping up efforts to come up with preventive interventions as well as rehabilitation,' Mofokeng says. Maj Gen Khomo Mohobo, who is part of an army-run youth development initiative at the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF), says bluetoothing is a serious concern. 'Young people, who sometimes do not have enough money to buy the drugs they want, are exposing themselves to all kinds of dangers by injecting themselves with the blood of others,' he says. 'A fix may cost R300 [about £12] and they contribute money and only one person takes the drugs. Once that person gets intoxicated, their friends then draw his or her blood and inject it into their own veins to get high. 'They call it hotspotting, but there are lot of terms that we hear the youths using when we do our youth development initiatives,' he adds. When Tumisi realised her daughter was taking drugs, she contacted another woman, Mamphana Molosti, who lived in a neighbouring village and had been attacked by her drug addicted son. They decided to form an association of women in similar situations. Mokhosi oa Mangoana provides information, counselling and training for mothers whose children are taking drugs and offers advice on detecting signs of substance abuse. The group has also been lobbying parliament to enact stricter laws and establish a working committee to monitor the situation, as well as building a rehabilitation centre. But that has not been easy, she says. There is little political will to implement their ideas and they face frequent resistance from lower-ranking law enforcement officers, says Tumisi. Sign up to Global Dispatch Get a different world view with a roundup of the best news, features and pictures, curated by our global development team after newsletter promotion 'We have reported dealers to different police stations multiple times and even tried to effect citizens' arrests but that has not worked. In fact, we have realised that in some cases, officers are involved [in the drugs trade],' she says. Molotsi, 47, survived a brutal attack in 2023 when her then 23-year-old son stabbed her after she questioned him about some money he had stolen. 'I only had 50 maloti [£2]in the house and my son took it and bought drugs. When I asked him, he became angry and he attacked me. He used everything that he could lay his hands on until he took a knife and stabbed me multiple times. 'The doctors said I was saved by one stab wound, which punctured my chest and allowed blood to flow out. Had it not been for that, my lungs would have filled up and I would have died.' By the time she regained consciousness, her son was in custody. Molotsi does not see her son as a monster but as someone who needed help. She visits him every week and is hoping he will be paroled soon from Maseru's squalid Central Correctional Institute. She fears that if he serves all of his six-year term, he could come back more addicted. The prison featured in a Netflix documentary on the world's toughest prisons. Earlier this month, Mokhosi oa Mangoana hosted trainers from the drug advisory programme (DAP) of the Colombo Plan, a Sri Lankan-based intergovernmental development organisation. The DAP, which operates in 80 countries, helps teach community leaders, counsellors, health professionals and police officers about the prevention and treatment of drug use. The team was led by Colombo Plan's Africa manager, George Murimi, who said cases of drug abuse had increased exponentially in the past decade. 'We are receiving a lot of calls, mainly from women. That is an indicator that cases are more rampant,' says Tumisi. But she and Molotsi say they have not lost hope. 'We are prepared to continue fighting,' says Tumisi. Yet they worry about the prevalence of dangerous methods of drug-taking such as bluetoothing. 'The work that has been done in fighting HIV and Aids is being reversed,' says Tumisi. Mokhosi oa Mangoana, which now has 150 members, is working to educate ordinary citizens as well as health workers to curb stigmatisation in healthcare centres and communities. Its members are all women as they are the worst affected, while men seldom open up about such matters, says Tumisi. 'As women, we are at risk. We are threatened daily. I have been attacked multiple times and my daughter has been assaulted and drugged in an attempt to deter me from fighting, but I'm not fazed. All hope will be lost if we buckle under pressure.'
