African press review 13 July 2016

Racism in South Africa, an artist's depiction of Jacob Zuma, female genital mutilation in Egypt, fighting in South Sudan and electoral standards in Kenya: a snapshot of some of the headlines in today's African press.

We begin with news that the South African Human Rights Commission has urged the Free State education department not to allow the return of a principal it fired for allegedly condoning racism.

This is being reported by The Mail and Guardian this morning.

Fanie Roeloffze, the headmaster of Wilgehof Primary in Bloemfontein, recently successfully appealed against the department’s sanction in the Education Labour Relations Council, which found his dismissal to be unfair, and ordered the department to reinstate him by or before the end of this month. The department was also ordered to pay him 17 months back pay.

The Mail and Guardian reports that Roeloffze was fired in January 2015 after being charged for, among other things, failing to act appropriately against the display of an old South African flag in a grade six classroom at the school.

Buang Jones, the provincial manager of the South African Human Rights Commission, said that they were disappointed with the outcome of the appeal.

Jones called it a "travesty of justice", adding that in light of what had transpired, one would have thought that the head teacher would have been transferred to another school.

Artistic Licence

In other South African news, Business Day is reporting that the visual artist, Ayanda Mabulu, is bound to set tongues wagging with his latest artwork on alleged state capture by the Gupta family.

One of the works by the artist on exhibition at Constitution Hill depicts President Jacob Zuma licking the behind of one of the Gupta brothers‚ a naked Atul‚ in an aircraft cockpit‚ with an ANC flag hanging to the side.

A second painting shows Zuma reclining in what resembles a throne‚ seemingly asleep and with his private parts exposed.

Mabulu told the Culture Review Magazine that the work is "not personal against Zuma" but that an artist "cannot sit aside and mask what is happening by ‘being metaphorical’ in the approach to his work".

Fighting in South Sudan

The African Union is considering sending troops to South Sudan, the East African is reporting.

The move is being pitched as a last resort to quell the wide scale violence that broke out between soldiers loyal to President Salva Kiir and those backing Vice President, Riek Machar.

At least 300 people were reported killed, including two Chinese peacekeepers, while thousands of civilians fled the capital, Juba.

In a closed door emergency meeting during the 27th African Union Summit in Kigali on Monday, delegates discussed the possibility of sending a neutral armed force to separate both groups of fighters, protect the unarmed civilians and enforce the peace agreement signed in August last year.

Female Genital Mutilation in Egypt

The Egypt Independent carries a story on female genital mutilation among its pages.

The paper reports that the Centre for Egyptian Women's Legal Assistance has slammed MP Ahmed al-Tahawy for saying that it is not appropriate to halt the practice of female genital mutilation, which he describes as an Islamic issue rather than a medical one.

In a statement, the centre said that “Female circumcision, which should be called female genital mutilation, is an African tradition that dates back to the ancient Egyptian age, and we inherited it thousands of years ago. It’s a practice that is unknown in most Muslim countries.”

Last month, the Egypt Independent reports, the mother of a 17-year old daughter was detained pending investigations into allegations that she subjected her daughter to female genital circumcision, resulting in her death.

The United Nations, UNICEF and the National Council for Childhood and Motherhood condemned the incident. The insitutional bodies have called for a review of current Egyptian legislation on the prohibition of circumcision. They also demanded that the existing law be properly enforced to ensure the full protection of the rights of women in Egypt.

Electoral standards in Kenya

And finally, the electoral agency in Kenya has shuffled senior staff in changes aimed at fostering confidence.

Kenya's Standard reports that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Chief Executive Officer, Ezra Chiloba, announced the changes yesterday, saying they were meant to ensure stability ahead of next year’s General Election.

Chiloba revealed the commission had recruited new staff to help in the realisation of it’s strategic goals.

However, Gatundu South MP, Moses Kuria, says he wants IEBC investigated, claiming it had recruited a large number of consultants funded by the United Nations Development Programme and that some of them were partisan.