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IMBISA concludes visit in Pemba

The Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA) concluded its visit in Pemba. 

On the 29thNovember – 3rd December, Fr. Dumisani Vilakati, representing IMBISA, had the good fortune of visiting the Diocese of Pemba in the Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique. The aim of the visit was to see and experience first-hand the life of the Church in this area of Northern Mozambique. This was important given that IMBISA had issued two statements calling for peace in Cabo Delgado.

In sweltering heat, I was warmly welcomed by the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Pemba, Bishop Juliasse Sandramo. The Bishop’s house was to be the place of residence throughout my stay in Pemba. I was also welcomed by other staff at the Diocesan Chancery, Caritas Pemba and not least Fr. Frederico Antonio, one of the priests of the Diocese of Pemba, whom I had known since my days at the Pontifical College of St. Paul in Rome.

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In The News

SAHPRA authorises use of the third dose of the Pfizer jab for over 18s

The South African Health Products Authority (SAHPRA) has approved the administering of the third dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for adults and children with a weak immune system.

This means all adults in South Africa are now eligible for an additional shot six months after the second dose and it may be given at any point after that time.

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Inside Church

HOW CAN WE DO CHURCH DIFFERENTLY?

Join the South African Council of Churches Women’s Forum today for a National Healing Service against GBVF. All people of faith; the clergy, men, women and youth are invited.

Please click the link below to join the webinar:

us02web.zoom.us/j/89971700705

Code: 89971700705

Password: 866335

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Categories
Gospel Music

Gospel-sensation Zahara tops iTunes charts

According to Briefly, Bulelwa Mkutukana, also known as Zahara, is a celebrated South African songwriter and singer. Her debut album, Loliwe,was released in 2011, and it went platinum. In 2015, Zahara released her third album, Country Girl, and it was certified triple platinum. 

Her fifth and most recent album, Nqaba Yam, topped the charts on iTunes.

She is also a multi-award-winning artist with an astonishing 17 SAMA awards to her name. Her most loved songs include Loliwe, Phendula and Ndiza.

Listen to her music here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSjAS3hh-N1cd2SJMnS_u2w

Photo: Facebook / Zahara

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In The News

COVID-19 death toll surpasses 90 000, with over 13 000 new cases reported

South Africa’s COVID-19 death toll has now crossed the 90 000 mark after 27 more people lost their lives to the virus on Tuesday.

The reported 27 deaths bring the total number of deaths to 90 002.

Meanwhile, 52 890 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, with 13 147 new cases, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said.

According to the NICD, Gauteng remains the epicentre with 8 445 new infections reported. It is followed by 1 396 cases in KwaZulu-Natal, 805 in the Western Cape and 720 in the North West, representing a 24.9% positivity rate.

This means there is now a caseload of 3 051 222 since the outbreak.

In addition, the Department of Health announced that 140 281 vaccine doses were given since the last reporting cycle, of which 29 965 were administered to children.

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Worldwide

WCC extends prayers, solidarity in wake of Mount Semeru eruption in Indonesia

At least 15 people are dead following the eruption, and hundreds of residents have been displaced. Mount Semeru is the tallest volcano on the Indonesian island of Java.

Search and recovery efforts continue after the volcano spewed hot ash and mud into nearby villages, damaging nearly 3,000 houses and 38 schools.

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Photo: Shutterstock

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Inside Church

African churches’ efforts meet African Union’s at Agenda 2063 strategic framework

At the core of the 50-year plan are aspirations such as a peaceful and secure, politically integrated and prosperous continent, among a list of seven.

It also has 20 goals, including healthy and well-nourished citizens, transformed economies and well-educated citizens, a skills revolution underpinned by science, technology and innovation in what the African Union calls the “Africa we want.”

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In The News

Marking to begin for 2021 matric exams

Marking of the 2021 National Senior Certificate examinations, which concluded without major incidents that could compromise the examination as a whole, will begin on Wednesday.

The Department of Basic Education in a statement said there were no confirmed reported serious irregularities that could threaten the credibility, integrity and image of the examinations, as a whole. This was apart from reported incidents of some candidates caught with crib notes and cellphones.

The five-week long examination, which began on 27 October, was written in 6 326 public examination centres, 526 independent centres and 326 designated centres.

A total of 897 786 candidates registered to sit for the November 2021 NSC examinations, comprising 735 677 full-time candidates and 162 109 part-time candidates.

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In The News

Webinar will publicly launch WCC Programme to Overcome Racism, Racial Discrimination and Xenophobia

An upcoming webinar on 8 December, entitled “From Combatting Racism to Overcoming Racism, Racial Discrimination and Xenophobia: the Old and the New for the Present and the Future of Racial Justice,” will publicly launch a new World Council of Churches (WCC) programme while commemorating the 50th anniversary of the WCC Progamme to Combat Racism.

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Photo: WCC Archive

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In The News

SA reports 6 381 new COVID-19 cases, nine more deaths

South Africa has recorded close to 6 400 new COVID-19 cases and nine deaths, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said on Monday.

The NICD announced that 4 488 new infections were detected in Gauteng, which is currently the epicentre of the fourth wave. There were 635 cases in KwaZulu-Natal, 356 in the Western Cape and 337 in Mpumalanga.

According to the latest data, the increase represents a 26.4% positivity rate, meaning the country now has a caseload of 3 038 075 COVID-19 infections.

In addition, the death toll stands at 89 975 since the outbreak, while those who are receiving hospital treatment has risen to 3 517 after 175 new admissions were recorded in the past 24 hours.

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