Gerrie Coetzee, former WBA heavyweight champ, dies at 67
Coetzee, who was white, was the first African boxer to win a world heavyweight title. “It was overwhelming because the country was preparing for democracy and Mr. Mandela was leading the way,” Coetzee said. Coetzee finally won the heavyweight title on his third attempt after losing to John Tate in 1979 in a fight for the WBA belt made vacant by Muhammad Ali's retirement. Coetzee also lost a second WBA title shot when he challenged Mike Weaver in 1980 and was stopped in the 13th round. Coetzee’s victory over Dokes for the WBA title came at a price.
wftv.comDuke and Duchess of Sussex's use of Mandela's name is 'upsetting and tedious', claims granddaughter
The granddaughter of Nelson Mandela has criticised the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for using the former South African president’s name to pull in Netflix audiences in their latest documentary, saying: “It’s deeply upsetting and tedious.”
news.yahoo.comGlobal statesmen: Only diplomacy can end Ukraine war
UNITED NATIONS — (AP) — Only dialogue and diplomacy can end the devastating war in Ukraine, with total victory on the battlefield impossible for either warring party, members of a group of prominent former world leaders founded by Nelson Mandela said Friday. Russian President Vladimir Putin has long complained the Western alliance has been pushing closer to its borders, a reality he has cited in justifying the invasion. "I think there should be less hypocrisy about the way in which this bellicose economic war is being fought,” he said. Zedillo also accused Russia of committing crimes that the International Criminal Court is charged with addressing — genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity — and that have to be decided by “due process.”Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
wftv.comPrince Harry challenges divided world to reclaim democracies
UNITED NATIONS — (AP) — Britain’s Prince Harry challenged people everywhere Monday to adopt Nelson Mandela’s spirit of hope in today’s divided world to reclaim democracies and leave a better future for children, movingly citing the inspiration of the anti-apartheid leader on his own life and his memories of his late mother, Princess Diana. As the father of two young children — Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1 — the prince expressed concern about the planet they and millions of others will inherit. ” That was an apparent reference to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision reversing a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion. “We are witnessing a global assault on democracy and freedom -- the cause of Mandela’s life,” the prince said. Harry challenged people everywhere to commit to celebrating Mandela day not just once a year but every day by carrying out acts of service to improve the world.
wftv.comBoxing champion belt given to Mandela stolen in South Africa
South Africa Boxing Belt Stolen FILE — Sugar Ray Leonard holds up the middleweight championship belt after defeating Marvin Hagler in a split decision to win the title in Las Vegas, Nev., April 6, 1987. A World Boxing Council championship belt belonging to former South African President Nelson Mandela has been stolen from a museum in Soweto. The belt was given to Mandela by American boxing legend Leonard during one of his visits to South Africa. The belt was given to Mandela by American boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard during one of his visits to South Africa. It was one of many artifacts inside the Nelson Mandela National Museum museum, a major tourist attraction for local and international travelers.
wftv.comEXPLAINER: The scandal engulfing South Africa's president
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa could face criminal charges and is already facing calls to step down over claims that he tried to cover up the theft of millions of dollars in U.S. currency that was hidden inside furniture at his game farm.
South Africa's Ramaphosa to speak about nation's challenges
South Africa Ramaphosa State of Nation Address Naval troops march toward the City Hall in Cape Town South African, Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022 where they will await the arrival of President Cyril Ramaphosa. Ramaphosa will deliver his State of the Nation address at the City Hall instead of at the Parliament building which was gutted by fire last month. It will be the first time since South Africa's achievement of democracy in 1994 that the address will be delivered outside the 138-year-old Parliament building. Cape Town City Hall has been cleaned up for the glamorous event attended by politicians, business leaders, celebrities and sports stars. The City Hall is no stranger to hosting significant events in South Africa's history.
wftv.com'Moral compass': Requiem for South Africa's Archbishop Tutu
APTOPIX South Africa Tutu Pallbearers carry the casket holding the body of Archbishop Desmond Tutu after the funeral service in St. George's Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022. “South Africa has given us extraordinary examples of towering leaders of the rainbow nation with President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Tutu .... Many Nobel winners' lights have grown dimmer over time, but Archbishop Tutu's has grown brighter.”Tutu died last Sunday at age 90. “Archbishop Desmond Tutu has been our moral compass and national conscience,” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who delivered the funeral eulogy, said. A few dozen people braved stormy weather to watch the service on a large screen in front of Cape Town City Hall.
wftv.comTutu: a man of empathy, moral ardor, and some silly jokes
South Africa Tutu Remembered Anglican Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Pretoria, South Africa, March 21, 2003. Something like: “So, it really is a white Christmas.”Evoking the Irving Berlin song ‘’White Christmas,’’ famously crooned by Bing Crosby, in tense, dusty Soweto was quintessential Tutu. The small generosities, the willingness to listen, the empathy, lightening the mood with … let’s face it, some pretty silly jokes. His notion of the ″rainbow nation,″ an idealized vision of racial tolerance, is at odds with the social and economic imbalances of South Africa today. God bless you.’’It was signed, simply, “Desmond.”___Torchia reported from South Africa for the AP from 2013 to 2019.
wftv.comSouth African minister objects to sale of Mandela's cell key
South Africa Mandela Auction Controversy FILE - Nelson Mandela, left, and former US president Bill Clinton look to the outside from Mandela's Robben Island prison cell in Cape Town, South Africa, March 27, 1998. The key is among Mandela memorabilia being sold by Guernsey's auction house in New York on Jan. 28. “This key belongs to the people of South Africa under the care of Robben Island Museum and the South African State. The key to his former jail cell is one of three items put up for sale by Christo Brand, Mandela's Robben Island jailer. The key also freed him and he went from prisoner to president of South Africa and became the inspiration for millions of people around the world.
wftv.comDe Klerk's death sparks debate over his role in apartheid
South Africa is engrossed in debate over the legacy of apartheid's last president, F.W. The South African military also fought in neighboring countries, including Angola and what became independent Namibia. For working together to end apartheid, de Klerk and Mandela were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. South Africa “lost a father who served the country with distinction,” said Chief Mandla Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela. In short, he was a killer.”A more forgiving approach toward de Klerk is urged by South African academic Adam Habib.
wftv.comSouth Africa's last apartheid president F. W. de Klerk dies
Obit FW de Klerk FILE - former South African President FW de Klerk gives a televised birthday message to former president Nelson Mandela for his 90th birthday at a press conference in Cape Town, South Africa, July 17, 2008. de Klerk, who oversaw end of South Africa's country’s white minority rule, has died at 85 it was announced Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021. de Klerk, who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Nelson Mandela and as South Africa’s last apartheid president oversaw the end of the country’s white minority rule, has died at the age of 85. De Klerk died after a battle against cancer at his home in the Fresnaye area of Cape Town, a spokesman for the F.W. It was de Klerk who in a speech to South Africa's parliament on Feb. 2, 1990, announced that Mandela would be released from prison after 27 years.
wftv.comSouth Africa's ANC party sees big decline in local elections
JOHANNESBURG — (AP) — South Africa's voters have delivered a significant rebuke to the governing African National Congress, the party of late anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, which got less than 50% of ballots cast in local government elections. Widespread corruption, persistently high rates of unemployment, crippling power blackouts and ineffective delivery of government services were burning campaign issues. President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged that the party will have to form coalitions to govern key metropolitan areas. Not only did voters not support the ANC, most did not bother to vote. The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, failed to take advantage of the ANC's declining support, seeing its share of votes decline by about 5% since the previous local elections in 2016.
wftv.comSouth Africa's Desmond Tutu turns 90 amid new racist slur
South Africa Tutu FILE — In this March 12, 2008 file photo, Former South African President Nelson Mandela, right, reacts with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, left, in Johannesburg, South Africa, As South Africa's anti-apartheid icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu turns 90, recent racist graffiti on a portrait of the Nobel winner highlights the continuing relevance of his work for equality. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe/File) (Themba Hadebe)CAPE TOWN, South Africa — (AP) — As South Africa's anti-apartheid icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu turns 90, recent racist graffiti on a portrait of the Nobel winner highlights the continuing relevance of his work for equality. Often hailed as the conscience of South Africa, Tutu was a key campaigner against South Africa's previous brutal system of oppression against the country's Black majority. After South Africa achieved democracy in 1994, he continued to be an outspoken proponent of reconciliation, justice and LBGT rights. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his campaign of nonviolent opposition to South Africa’s system of white minority rule.
wftv.comSouth African photojournalist John Parkin dies at age 63
Obit South Africa Photographer FILE - In this July 7, 1991, file photo, taken by South Africa photographer John Parkin, newly-elected African National Congress President Nelson Mandela and his wife, Winnie, greet supporters at an ANC rally. Parkin, who covered the country's anti-apartheid struggle, its first democratic elections, and the presidency of Nelson Mandela, has died Monday Aug. 23, 2021, at the age of 63 according to his daughter. (AP Photo/John Parkin, File) (John Parkin)JOHANNESBURG — (AP) — South African photographer John Parkin, who covered the country’s anti-apartheid struggle, its first democratic elections, and the presidency of Nelson Mandela, has died at the age of 63. After training as a photographer in the South African air force, Parkin worked for the Sunday Express newspaper in Johannesburg, and in the mid-1980s he began taking photos for The Associated Press. “In that period, South Africa was one of the world's biggest news stories.
wftv.comMandela's widow, Graça Machel, says global leadership during the pandemic has been 'inadequate'
Graça Machel, an internationally-renowned advocate for equality and the widow of former South African President Nelson Mandela, told CNBC the response from global leaders to the Covid-19 crisis has been "inadequate." Machel, who is also the founder of the Foundation for Community Development in Mozambique, specifically criticized the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization. Trump has also previously cited what he called "the World Health Organization's role in severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus." A senior administration official at the White House told CNBC that the president has been clear that the WHO needs to reform. We account for more than 40 percent of total global health funding," the official said in a statement.
cnbc.comThis Week In History: Nelson Mandela freed from jail, Dick Cheney shoots his friend, and Donald Trump's divorce drama
Nelson Mandela is freed from jail after 27 years, Princess Diana announces her second pregnancy, and "Taxi Driver" makes its theater debut. All this and more as CBSN's Vladimir Duthiers and Kristine Johnson take a look in the CBS News archives in "The Way It Was."
cbsnews.comMorgan Freeman on "Madam Secretary," directing and his voice
The Academy Award-winner is one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood, having played characters like a prisoner in "The Shawshank Redemption" to Nelson Mandela in "Invictus." He's even played god -- twice. Freeman joins “CBS This Morning” to discuss his experience directing and acting in Sunday night's premiere episode of “Madam Secretary.”
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