₦airaland Forum

As Johannesburg readies to receive world leaders this weekend for the first G20 on African soil, a group of local South African artists teamed up with activists from the Glasgow Actions Team (GAT) to illuminate Johannesburg’s skyline on Wednesday night. They projected a series of posters and illustrations, demanding urgent action on the global debt crisis and climate accountability.

Buildings in Sandton, Braamfontein and Brixton were used as a massive canvas as they called for debt reform and more action on climate change.

In Sandton, commuters and pedestrians stopped to look at the massive projection on the outside of the Sandton Towers, which called for massive polluters to pay their fair share to help deal with the climate crisis. In Braamfontein, the walls of the Johannesburg City Metro Centre and iconic Brixton Tower were illuminated with messages, calling for an end to exploitative debt on the poor.

“We use creative direct action to bring attention to some of the biggest crises facing humanity right now,” says Andrew Nazdin from the Glasgow Actions Team. “Whether it be the climate crisis, affordability or the debt crisis. We want to make sure we are shining a light on some of the biggest problems and the people making them happen so that the rest of us have a chance to live in dignity.”

Activists also called on the South African government, as the host of this year’s G20 summit, to take a strong stance on debt reform, to mitigate high debt negatively affecting poorer nations, hampering their ability to invest in their populations and meet their development goals.

Sekoetlane Phamodi, program director at the New Economy Hub, which participated in the protest, said that some African countries are paying more in debt service costs than they invest in comprehensive public health and education services.

“This is not only denying them the right to invest in the wealth of their nations, but it is worsening household deprivation, fueling social crises, and driving political instability, as we’ve seen in the unrest spreading across countries from Kenya to Madagascar, Morocco, Nepal, Indonesia, and others. The global debt crises, development crises, and the democracy crises are all intertwined. We’re counting on our leaders to deliver real structural reforms, starting with urgent debt relief and a global financial system that puts people before creditors.”

Local artists who developed the artwork and chose the locations were represented by CAMP, the Community Art Mobilisation Project, a visual arts collective which calls attention to the urgent issues facing people by working with affected communities.

CAMP’s work can be seen across Joburg. They have previously worked on artwork highlighting concerns around the Stilfontein miners, the plight of people in Gaza, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as South Africa’s inequality crisis.

“A lot of the graffiti in Joburg is really apolitical, so we are one of the only art collectives putting political messaging on the streets. We’ve identified a gap for artists to make critical interventions in public spaces using prints, murals, and collage. We do culture jamming and make protest materials,” said a representative from CAMP.

The event follows an open letter signed by 164 civil society organisations from around the globe, calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to take a “far stronger” position on the debt crisis.

Bittersweetnig:
oh, see this one, SA people are angel right? People that their jobs are armed rubbers and Laziness, blacks aren't the one who fix South Africa, appatheld made SA what it is, don't come here to make yourself look like a better person, we know who you are. Just shut up and don't talk when other Africans are talking

helinues:
Why didn't USA dump them in Lebanon, Iran that have been more supportive to Palestinians than SA?

When we were telling you that you people are too emotional with your support about things, hope you are seeing the outcome now

Before you know it, hard criminals would be deported to SA

helinues:
You are not supposed to be talking. Trump priced the South Africa by dumping the Palestines into una country. Your president shouldn't have agreed to such arrangements

Itsofficial:
Let it be fellow Africans you’ll see black South Africans protesting and shouting Amhambe go back to your country Kwerekwere. As long as they’re white or brown colour people they’re okay.

I have never seen a useless set of Africans like the South Africans.

Dr Daniel Bwala, Adviser to the Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, had an interview with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) on Monday evening to discuss the notion of a Christian genocide in Nigeria and Trump's threat of a military intervention.

The host Thembekile Mrototo began by asking for his thoughts on recent developments.

Bwala: Nigeria is "not a hostile country to warrant US military intervention".

The "concept of a Christian genocide is a hoax by a separatist group in Nigeria to create discord in the country".

Bwala was also asked if Nigeria would be able to convince Trump otherwise on 'Christian genocide' when South Africa has so far been unable to dispel false notions of a white genocide in the country.

He responded by saying "Trump is open to dialogue" and has previously adopted "a common understanding" following meetings with different world leaders in the Oval Office.

Asked what credible data the Nigerians have to show Americans that there's no disproportionate or exclusive killings that target Christian communities, Bwala responded by saying "there's no extraordinary data" and that "all data is already out in the open space".

Asked how Nigeria will respond if Trump unilaterally approved military action in the country, Bwala said "there's never going to be a case of military intervention in Nigeria because we know the body language and tactics of President Trump".

Asked if a visit to the White House would ease the tension, Bwala said the South African visit to Trump earlier in the year also achieved that very objective of easing tensions.

Asked if there'll be a meeting between Trump and Tinubu in the coming hours, Bwala said "we reserve our comment, diplomacy requires protocol and we have to respect protocol".

buttlover:
Seems the monkey lost it's way to our uncomplicated building, we chased it up to one of the room and send it to its ancestors.

brain54:
Seems like the op's Monika has been hacked...

IronGalaxy:
Nah.. what annoys me is this constant belittling of black South Africans.. People who've never set foot outside Nigeria alwats peddling this myth that black South Africans "envy" them,? Envy what exactly? Black South Africans actually enjoy some ot the best standards of living in the continent and im not talking about the poor ones.. We have nothing to "envy" from people who run from their countries because they dont offer what we take from granted..

mysticwarrior:
They would be knocked out in the first round.

Chucks13:
You mean South Africa to round of 16 in the World Cup? You are too funny.

SeraphicWind:
You now see that it was Nigeria that many of you Southies love to hate so much that actually gave joy to your country.

Nigeria could have decided to sabotage everything by allowing Benin republic to win and appear at the world cup for the first time.

By the way, what is wrong with that South African commentator?

Buharidgeneral:
Congratulations are in order. Despite point deductions Kundus for you all

9JAMac10:
concur with you OG. Wish it was another team not South Africa. Can’t stand those xenophobic dummy people ruled by a white minority hahaha , no worry we will be at the World Cup

IronGalaxy:
I'll take this as pain from not qualifying

IronGalaxy:
Yoh, to the point that they're resorting to their favorite topic of all time. the white people

Tell me what does our win has to do with them? 😂

IronGalaxy:
Congratulations to the boys 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦