What’s Going On: Truck-Bus Collision in South Africa, Landslide in DR Congo & More

Notable News headlines from across Africa.

Written by Uzoma Ihejirika - 19.Sep.2023

“What’s Going On” Tallies Notable News Headlines From Across The Continent — The Good, The Bad, And The Horrible — As A Way Of Ensuring That We All Become A More Sagacious African Generation. With This Column, We’re Hoping To Disseminate The Latest Happenings In Our Socio-Political Climate From Across The Continent, Whilst Starting A Conversation About What’s Important For Us To All Discuss. From Political Affairs To Socio-Economic Issues, ‘What’s Going On’ Will Discuss Just That. This Week’s Headlines Come From Across South Africa, DR Congo & more.

17 PEOPLE CONFIRMED DEAD IN CONGO LANDSLIDE

At least 17 people were killed by a landslide caused by heavy rainfall in the northwestern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The tragedy happened on Sunday along the Congo River in the town of Lisal, in northwestern Mongala province, according to Matthieu Mole, president of the civil society organization Forces Vives, with the victims said to have lived in houses built at the foot of a mountain.

“Torrential rain caused a lot of damage, including a landslide which engulfed several houses,” he said. “The results are still provisional because bodies are still under the rubble. ” Authorities have also warned that the toll could rise as rescuers continue their search through the rubble of collapsed houses. Cesar Limbaya Mbangisa, governor of Mongala province, said there was an urgent need for machines to help clear debris and try to save survivors. The governor also offered his condolences to the families of the victims and declared three days of mourning throughout the province.

The United Nations climate experts reported that poverty and poor infrastructure have contributed to certain communities becoming vulnerable to extreme weather such as heavy rains, which are becoming more frequent and intense in Africa due to climate change.

 

LIBYA PROTESTERS STORM DERNA AFTER HORRIFIC FLASH FLOOD

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of Derna in Libya on Monday, accusing the authorities of neglect after a huge flash flood devastated the coastal city and swept thousands to their deaths. The protesters gathered outside the city’s grand Sahaba mosque and chanted slogans against the parliament in east Libya and its leader Aguilah Saleh.

In the evening of  Monday, the protesters set fire to the house of Abdulmenam al-Ghaithi, ex-mayor of Derna at the time of the flood. They also called out other officials, including the head of the eastern-based Libyan parliament, Aguila Saleh. “Aguila, we don’t want you. All Libyans are brothers,” protesters chanted. Prime Minister Usama Hamad has dismissed all the members of Derna’s municipal council and referred them for investigation.

Due to the September 10 disaster, when two dams burst after Storm Daniel hit eastern Libya and unleashed a torrent throughout Derna that killed nearly 3,300 people and left thousands more missing, thousands of Derna residents are homeless and badly need clean water, food and basic supplies amid a growing risk of cholera, diarrhoea, dehydration and malnutrition.

SOUTH AFRICA: TRUCK-BUS COLLISION CAUSE DEATH OF 20 PEOPLE

A head-on collision between a truck and a bus ferrying workers to a mine in northern South Africa’s Limpopo province has killed 20 people. “A bus transporting employees of the Venetia mine was involved in an accident on Sunday afternoon,” the Transport Department of Limpopo province (north) said in a statement. The accident “cost the lives of at least 20 mine employees.”

The construction company Murray & Roberts Cementation confirmed on Monday that 17 of the dead were its workers who were being transported to the Venetia mine in Musina close to the Zimbabwe border. Four workers were injured in Sunday’s accident. The company said it was offering support to the families of the dead. It is still unclear who the other three victims are.

The Venetia mine, located in the bush near the border with Botswana and Zimbabwe, has been operated for more than 30 years by the De Beers group. It represents 40% of South Africa’s annual diamond production and has more than 4,300 employees, many of whom come from neighbouring communities.

South Africa has one of the most developed road networks on the continent but is among the worst performers in terms of road safety. A study in 2015 found that road traffic crashes have continued to be the 9th leading cause of death for 15 years in the country (1997-2012), claiming an average of 3.5 per cent of overall deaths during those years.

ABEOKUTA YOUTHS PROTEST MOHBAD’S DEATH

Youths in the Panseke area of Abeokuta have entered the streets to demand justice for the death of Nigerian musician, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad. Since news of Mohbad’s death was confirmed on September 12, artists and fans have shared tributes in honour of the man christened Imole – The Light.

The Abeoukuta protest is part of the wave of agitations that have followed Mohbad’s death, after a well-documented breakup with his former label Marlian Records and its boss, Naira Marley. With the hashtag #Justice4Mohbad across social media, sympathisers have called for an investigation into the death of Mohbad after reports of the late singer facing bullying and intimidation came to light.

On Monday, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police announced the commencement of a full investigation into the death of Mohbad. He revealed that a 13-man committee have been set up to “unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of the victim, identify witnesses, culprits if any and any person that will be helpful to the investigative process and deploy processes and other technological tools to aid the investigative course in line with the relevant provisions of Nigeria.” Areas of concentration for the committee are exhumation, autopsy/toxicology/histology, scene visit, hospital/medical report and records of suspects/witnesses’ statements.

ICYMI: IN MEMORY OF MOHBAD, THE STREET-POP ARTIST WHO ALWAYS SOUGHT THE LIGHT

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