“NO ELECTRICITY, NO VOTE,” SOUTH AFRICANS THREATEN TO SHUN RULING PARTY ANC. (PHOTO)

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 “No electricity, no vote,” South Africans threaten to shun ruling party ANC Residents in Katlehong, a township outside Johannesburg, have resolved to boycott South Africa's upcoming local elections on November 4 due to long-standing failures by authorities to provide basic services like electricity. For over 20 years, around 180 households in the community have relied on illegal electrical connections pulled from neighboring areas to power their homes. Angry over the lack of formal grid infrastructure, residents are directing their frustration at the ruling African National Congress (ANC). "We have made a collective decision: no electricity, no vote," said community leader Lesiba Rankapole, 59. "We know it is illegal, but we had no choice because we cannot live without electricity. Our children cannot progress without electricity." "I was born ANC, but today I do not want anyone to tell me about the ANC because I am suffering," added 57-year-old resid...

CONGO, RWANDA TO SIGN PEACE DEAL TO HALT M23 REBELS' ADVANCE. (PHOTO).


 Congo, Rwanda to sign peace deal to halt M23 rebels' advance


Congo and Rwanda plan to sign an agreement in Washington on Friday to promote peace and economic development, sources told Reuters news agency, part of a diplomatic push to end violence after an advance by M23 rebels in eastern Congo, Reuters reported.


The agreement, expected to be signed by the two countries' foreign ministers at a ceremony with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, comes as Washington is in talks to invest billions of dollars in mineral-rich Congo. Rwanda said this week it was also speaking to Washington about a possible minerals deal.


Congo has seen a surge in violence after M23 rebels launched a major offensive in January that led to the capture of the two largest cities in the east.


The United Nations and Western governments say Rwanda has provided arms and troops to M23. Rwanda denies backing the rebels and says its military has acted in self-defence against Congo's army and a militia founded by perpetrators of the 1994 genocide.


Both Qatar and the US have shown an interest in mediating a resolution. The Gulf state has long positioned itself as a peacemaker, while Washington is interested in accessing a greater share of Congo's mineral wealth.


A diplomatic source said the agreement to be signed on Friday aims to foster a "pathway to peace, stability, and integrated economic development" in eastern Congo and "the resumption of normal bilateral relations".


Another source briefed on the agreement said it was intended to build investor confidence.


The Trump administration has taken a special interest in Congo since a Congolese senator contacted US officials to pitch a minerals-for-security deal this year.


Washington wants greater access to minerals like copper, cobalt and lithium, which are used in mobile phones and electric cars, and are currently exploited predominantly by China and its mining companies.

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