Latest news with #SouthAfrica-born
Politico
2 days ago
- Politics
- Politico
‘Africans are starting to organize'
With help from Amira McKee U-GANDA BE REAL: Zohran Mamdani is proudly African. And while the Democratic mayoral nominee's own immigration story may look different than many of the Black West Africans who are the core of New York City's diaspora community, there's a meaningful connection. 'He is born in Africa, and he's running to be mayor of the global capital. So yes, there is a very strong sense of pride for that,' said Mona Davids, the South Africa-born publisher of LittleAfrica News and president of issue advocacy firm Social Impact Strategies. 'But that does not mean that he's automatically going to get the African vote.' Mamdani is currently in Uganda, where he celebrated his wedding at his family home in Kampala. He was born there to an Indian-American mother and an Indian-Ugandan father whose family has roots in the East African country going back generations. Mamdani's primary win comes as New York City's African immigrant population is seeking to gain the local political influence long ago won by the city's African-American and West Indian communities. 'Africans are starting to organize,' Davids said. She's part of a coalition of African leaders that plans to vet general election candidates for potential endorsements, asking if they've supported African community programs or aided small business owners. Many asylum-seekers from West African nations like Senegal and Mauritania have come to the city over the last three years — an especially high-need population that's received limited institutional support. The African diaspora community didn't really know Mamdani before he ran for mayor, Davids said. But they did know Assemblymember Charles Fall. Fall was born in New York to Guinean immigrant parents, and has Senegalese heritage as well. While his district spans the North Shore of Staten Island and Lower Manhattan, he told Playbook he 'absolutely' represents the whole diaspora. That means going to African immigrant community events in Harlem and especially the Bronx, where the borough president's office has an African Advisory Council and African City Council candidates like Bola Omotosho, Ahmadou T. Diallo and Abdourahamane Diallo have all run for office and lost. Fall and Mamdani are both Muslim, like many in the African diaspora. While Fall said there was a 'mixture' of support for Mamdani among Black communities overall, the African Muslim support was overwhelming. 'There was absolutely a level of excitement that I've never seen in the masjids before about him,' he said. 'He definitely energized people in a way that I haven't seen.' Having lived in Uganda and South Africa, having majored in Africana studies in college, and having been given the middle name Kwame to honor Pan-African leader Kwame Nkrumah by his academic father, it's not surprising that Mamdani sought African diaspora votes with specificity. His campaign hosted an Eritreans & Ethiopians for Zohran fundraiser in April. And in his election night speech, he said it was a win for 'the Gambian uncle who finally saw himself and his struggle in a campaign for the city that he calls home.' Mamdani is continuing to seize on that connection, with an eye toward the general election. He attended a Guinean community event in the Bronx earlier this month. 'Zohran has always spoken proudly about his Ugandan roots, and how formative they are to his identity,' said Mamdani senior adviser Zara Rahim, who's leading much of the campaign's African outreach. 'He absolutely feels a deep connection to the African diaspora in New York — and his commitment to them is clear: make this city more affordable, keep their families safe, and protect them from ICE and the crisis of authoritarianism in this country.' — Jeff Coltin From the Capitol STEFANIK'S FUNDRAISING: Rep. Elise Stefanik's possible bid for governor is taking the North Country Republican to the Southern Tier. Stefanik will headline an Aug. 26 fundraiser with the Broome County GOP. Tickets range from $75 per person to $5,000 for a 'platinum sponsor.' Her planned appearance at the event — billed as a clam bake — comes as Stefanik is widely considered the likely Republican nominee to challenge Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2026. Rep. Mike Lawler, a moderate, announced last week he would run for reelection to his swing House district. Stefanik's political operation this month disclosed she had raised more than $11 million across multiple campaign accounts. — Nick Reisman CYBER DEFENSE: The Hochul administration is trying to bolster the state's cybersecurity protections after a series of ransomware attacks on government targets. The governor this afternoon touted a law that's now in effect which will require all public corporations and authorities to report cybersecurity incidents within 72 hours. Ransomware payments by victims must also be reported within 24 hours. 'Here in New York, we are keeping up with technology's fast-paced evolution and are resilient in the face of cybersecurity threats,' Hochul said. Cyberattacks and threats have become a hazard for both the private and public sectors. A 2024 attack on the Legislative Bill Drafting Commission hobbled officials' ability to complete the state budget and forced the Legislature to turn to a computer system from 1994. — Nick Reisman FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL CUOMO DEFENDS BEING NETANYAHU'S LAWYER: Andrew Cuomo defended his role on Benjamin Netanyahu's legal team — which is fighting the International Criminal Court's charges of genocide — during an interview with WNYC's Brian Lehrer today. 'That was a technical issue of the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction,' Cuomo said, when asked if he would still defend Netanyahu from genocide charges. 'That's what that was about, an overreach of the ICC, which I believe it is. I don't believe they have any legal jurisdiction.' The explanation for his role on Netanyahu's legal defense team comes as a broad swath of New York Democrats are calling on Israel to allow more aid into Gaza amid reports of starvation in the region. Playbook asked the Cuomo campaign today if the former governor believes Netanyahu has committed war crimes — regardless of questions over the international body's jurisdiction. The campaign did not respond to our inquiries. Cuomo announced in November he was joining Netanyahu's legal team. At the time, he said he was taking on the role because he is 'proud to stand against antisemitism.' Cuomo has not done any legal work for the prime minister since the announcement, his spokesperson, Rich Azzopardi, told Playbook. During the mayoral primary, the former governor focused his campaign around issues of the Israel-Gaza war and antisemitism. Lehrer also asked Cuomo about 'widespread starvation and shootings at food distribution sites' in Gaza. 'The Middle East, of course, is a horrific situation that is going on,' Cuomo responded. 'Everyone who has any sense of decency wants it to stop and wants it to stop immediately, and prays for peace. Everyone wants those hostages returned, and they want the killing to stop.' Cuomo also told Lehrer that he has not accused Mamdani of being antisemitic — 'to say someone is antisemitic you have to look into their soul … that's above my pay grade,' he said — but he does believe the Democratic mayoral nominee has fueled antisemitism on the trail. — Jason Beeferman IN OTHER NEWS — IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED … : Investor Ricky Sandler is pledging $500,000 to a super PAC to try to stop Mamdani and boost Eric Adams. (Hell Gate) — PRISON STAFFING SHORTAGES: New York's prison guard strike ended months ago, but lingering dysfunction and understaffing are keeping incarcerated people from receiving medical care and essential other services. (The Marshall Project) — FREEZE THE RENT: Critics warn that Mamdani's rent freeze proposal raises tricky questions for the city's rent-regulated buildings, many of which are already facing financial peril. (POLITICO Pro) Missed this morning's New York Playbook? We forgive you. Read it here.
The South African
2 days ago
- Business
- The South African
South Africa's richest men: How 7 tycoons built their fortunes
It's often said that making money is easy – when you already have some to begin with. In South Africa, a select group of businessmen has proven this adage true, using generational wealth, bold decisions, and smart investing to amass fortunes that stretch into the billions. From mining and media to finance and fashion, these seven South African billionaires have built and grown empires that span industries and continents. Collectively, they hold an astonishing $36.9 billion (R659 billion) in wealth, according to Forbes' real-time billionaire list. South Africa's wealthiest individuals highlight the power of compound wealth, strategic investing, and often, privileged starting points. While some leveraged family businesses, others capitalised on market shifts and global opportunities to build their empires. Though controversial to some, their financial influence is undeniable – not just in South Africa, but on the global stage. As the saying goes, 'the rich get richer.' And in this case, they're doing so with style, strategy, and staggering numbers. Meanwhile, in terms of the overall world list, South Africa-born Elon Musk remains the world's richest person with a reported $410.3 billion. Below, the list of the top seven richest South Africans in the world as of 28 July 2025. Rank Name Last week This week Source 197 Johann Rupert & family $14.5bn $13.5bn Luxury goods 279 Nicky Oppenheimer & family $10.5bn $10.4bn Diamonds 1 034 Koos Bekker $3.6bn $3.7bn Media, investments 1 166 Patrice Motsepe $3.3bn $3.4bn Mining 1 528 Michiel Le Roux $2.6bn $2.5bn Banking 2 052 Jannie Mouton & family $1.8bn $1.8bn Retail 2 207 Christo Wiese $1.7bn $1.6bn Financial services TOTAL $38bn $36.9bn Net Worth: $13.5 billion Industry: Luxury Goods, Finance At the top of the list is Johann Rupert, chair of Compagnie Financière Richemont, the Swiss luxury goods group behind brands like Cartier, Montblanc, and Dunhill. With significant holdings in financial services and investments, Rupert has masterfully expanded his wealth while maintaining a relatively low public profile. Net Worth: $10.4 billion Industry: Diamonds, Investment The former chairman of De Beers, Nicky Oppenheimer sold the family's 40% stake in the diamond giant to Anglo American for $5.1 billion in 2012. Since then, he has grown his fortune through private equity investments and conservation initiatives across Africa. Net Worth: $3.7 billion Industry: Media, Technology Known for turning Naspers into a global tech giant, Koos Bekker made headlines by investing early in China's Tencent. That decision alone brought in tens of billions for Naspers. Bekker's strategic leadership transformed the company from a local media firm into a global player. Net Worth: $3.4 billion Industry: Mining, Finance Patrice Motsepe made his fortune through African Rainbow Minerals, becoming South Africa's first black billionaire. A key figure in Black Economic Empowerment, he also holds a stake in financial services firm Sanlam and is a noted philanthropist and investor in sports. Net Worth: $2.5 billion Industry: Banking Founder of Capitec Bank, Michiel Le Roux revolutionised South Africa's banking landscape by creating a low-cost, accessible banking model. The bank's growth and profitability have made it a darling on the JSE and a consistent driver of Le Roux's wealth. Net Worth: $1.8 billion Industry: Investments The founder of PSG Group, Jannie Mouton earned the nickname 'Boere Buffett' for his savvy investment strategy. PSG has stakes in Capitec, Curro (education), and various agricultural and financial firms, making Mouton a quiet force in South African business. Net Worth: $1.6 billion Industry: Retail Despite setbacks with the collapse of Steinhoff, Christo Wiese remains a retail titan with interests in Shoprite and other ventures. Once South Africa's richest man, Wiese is rebuilding and diversifying his portfolio. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
5 days ago
- Business
- The South African
Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet suffers global outage
SpaceX chief Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet service experienced an hours-long global network outage late on Thursday, which executives attributed to a key software issue. The service interruption was announced on X at about 22:00 (SA time) on Thursday by Starlink's official handle. Users in the United States and Europe began reporting problems with the service an hour before the Starlink announcement on Downdetector, a website that tracks issues in internet-based services. 'Service will be restored shortly,' South Africa-born Musk posted on X, apologising for the outage. 'SpaceX will remedy root cause to ensure it doesn't happen again.' The tech billionaire later reposted a statement from Starlink Vice President of Engineering Michael Nicolls, who said the disruption was due to the 'failure of key internal software services that operate the core network.' Nicolls also said the Starlink network had 'mostly recovered' from the outage, which 'lasted approximately 2.5 hours.' About two hours later, Starlink posted that the issue was resolved and that service was restored. User reports on Downdetector began after 21:00 (SA time), peaking at 21:34 (SA time) and tapering out at 05:00 (SA time). Starlink, a subsidiary of Musk's space rocket venture SpaceX, has deployed more than 6 000 low-orbit satellites to provide high-speed internet to isolated and poorly connected areas. Starlink currently leads the satellite internet race, with European competitor Eutelsat – which is backed by France and the United Kingdom – lagging behind with 600 satellites. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse
Indian Express
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘My heart sunk': England pacer Brydon Carse opens up on his gambling ban, credits Ben Stokes for reviving international career
England pacer Brydon Carse has had his breakthrough Test season ever since making his debut in October 2024, months after being banned for three months for breaching England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) gambling regulations in the past. Carse, who will turn 30 on July 31, after making his fourth straight Test appearance in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, credited his skipper Ben Stokes for helping him through the rough back into the spotlight in the national set-up. Carse's international career was hampered by the three-month ban after he was deemed to have placed 303 bets on matches that he wasn't a part of between 2017 and 2019. 'There's no denying that when all of that stuff surfaced, I was actually on my way down to play a game for Durham at Warwickshire, and yeah, my heart sunk, trying to piece together what had happened six, seven years ago,' Carse told Michael Atherton in a chat on Sky Sports. 'But I think that whole process that I went through and the support that I had from Durham and from England, and the lessons that I learned. I'm a firm believer that everything does happen for a reason, and I've often said that. 'It's something I obviously deeply regret now. But I think it's something that going forward in my playing career and away from cricket in my personal life, it certainly, I feel, will make me stronger in certain situations that I come across.' Sharing the Durham county, the South Africa-born Carse revealed how the relationship with Stokes has benefitted him over the years. 'He's (Stokes) certainly been pivotal in everything that I've gone about on the field and off the field, and someone that I respect and someone that I'm very thankful for the relationship and friendship that I have with him,' Carse added. 'Ben has been someone who I've constantly had a relationship with from a young age and have spoken to him about many things. 'He was one of the first people who I did pick the phone up and ring. He was brilliant. 'The following morning, we caught up for a coffee and we had a great chat. He was very honest with me and gave me his advice, which I naturally took straight away.' Having picked up nine wickets in the series, Carse has been Stokes' steady pace hand against India since last month. Carse also slammed his maiden Test fifty in the second-innings of the Lord's Test that England went onto win by only 22 runs.
Hindustan Times
22-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
LA Times billionaire owner plans to take newspaper public
Patrick Soon-Shiong plans to take the Los Angeles Times public over the next year, the billionaire owner told Jon Stewart on Monday night. The Los Angeles Times newspaper headquarters are seen in El Segundo, California on January 18, 2024.(AFP) The newspaper has been under his stewardship since 2018, when his Nant Capital investment vehicle purchased it in a $500 million deal. South Africa-born Soon-Shiong helped steady the business after a clash between its editorial staff and the previous owners. If an initial public offering goes ahead, the LA Times would join former parent Tribune Publishing Co. and The New York Times Co. among the largest publicly traded news organizations. It would give investors a chance to own a piece of one of the oldest and largest media outlets in California, the richest US state. 'We'll allow it to be democratized and allow the public to have ownership of this paper,' Soon-Shiong said on The Daily Show. 'Unless you have truth and trust, I think we're not going to have healing in this country.' Before acquiring the LA Times, Soon-Shiong built his fortune in pharmaceuticals, and he discussed his work on cancer research during the Monday interview. He said it's important for the US to have a trustworthy source of news — for both sides of the political divide — and therefore wanted to allow Americans the ability to own it. He did not elaborate on a timeline beyond saying it should happen over the next year. Like other traditional media organizations, the LA Times has in recent years struggled with an advertising and readership downturn. Soon-Shiong, like fellow billionaire owner Jeff Bezos did with the Washington Post, blocked his newspaper from publishing an endorsement in the 2024 US presidential election, leading some of his editors to resign in protest.
