Front page: the South African Minister of Communication's failure to respect confinement

Audio 4:15

By: Aurélien Devernoix

Publicity

" Kick her out, Mr. President, " said The Times after the outcry over the publication on social networks of a photo of Stella Ndabeni Abrahams having lunch with several people including former Secretary of State Mduduzi Manana.

He presented contradictory versions, explaining first of all that the minister had stopped at his home after a morning of work, which is illegal, South Africa having put in place a strict confinement ... then ex-deputy ANC co-pedaled, claiming that she had come to get gloves and masks.

" A debacle " according to The Mail and Guardian , which led President Ramaphosa to summon his minister. But we must therefore go further according to the local press, because it is not “ a trivial matter ”, continues Mail and Guardian : “ Everyone must comply with the law, even politicians […] he must not there will be exceptions ”. " If you arrest a married couple and their guests, " the newspaper continues, referring to information from previous days, " you should also be prepared to arrest a politician who does not respect confinement ."

The newspapers also wonder about what still justifies the presence of Stella Ndabeni Abrahams in government, while she has multiplied the odd in recent months. " And it is capable of causing even more damage, " said the Times .

The affair is in any case embarrassing for Cyril Ramaphosa who still hesitates to prolong the period of confinement in the country, explains ENCA.

The South African president even had to recall that he was complying well with the confinement rules, reports IOL : " I am going directly home, I am not going to visit friends or family, I am going home ".

" After a long period during which the country's leaders acted with impunity ", concludes the Times , " Ramaphosa had promised an exemplary government no longer tolerating this kind of behavior (…) it must prove that no one is above laws . "

The coronavirus epidemic which is disrupting certain habits of African leaders, is rebounding today in Faso

The Burkinabe newspaper mentions " a Copernican turning point " about the " taboo on the state of health of African ministers and high officials . "

"Europe is overbooked medically," not to go quietly in France, Britain or Switzerland for treatment, and "more question of hiding his illness."

The daily lists the cases listed in the Burkinabé government, 4 at the last count but also in Côte d'Ivoire or Guinea

" This is proof that they are men, and that there is no harm in them getting sick ", explains Today in Faso , " even if without the coronavirus, some would have passed to posterity as insensitive to pathologies ”.

But " the other lesson ", squeaks the newspaper, is that being confined to their country, African leaders are "therefore compelled to deploy all the necessary means to fight the disease ".

" If by chance, some officials had had the opportunity to go to European hospitals for treatment, it was a safe bet, " concludes the daily " that the crusade against the Covid-19 would have taken another pace . "

Humanitarian reason or free pass?

The transfer for two months of former Chadian President Hissène Habré from his Senegalese prison to his residence in the same country continues to react.

The Senegalese government made this decision the day before yesterday due to the risk of contamination by the former dictator's covid-19 in the Cap Manuel prison.

" The reasons given are discriminatory and illegal, " protests Moustapha Diakhité in a post taken up by SeneNews . The Senegalese opponent judges that it is “ an unacceptable thumbing down on the Republican principle of equality of detainees . "

Outraged reactions in Chad also: " it is a blow on the head, " said the president of the association of victims of repression and political crimes under Habré, interviewed by the African Press Agency.

" Hissene Habré was a coronavirus for Chad ", storm Clément Abaïfouta, resuming the humanitarian reason invoked by Dakar: " Was it humanitarian? […] He left mass graves, a thousand orphans. […] It is ridiculous for the memory of the victims ”.

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• Newspaper
• South Africa
• Containment
• Coronavirus