South African papers criticise ‘ignorant,’ ‘knee-jerk’ travel bans

The Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, is set to become the first state hospital in Africa to perform robotic-assisted surgery, following the launch of the state-of-the-art Da Vinci X-I surgical robot.⁣⁣ The four-armed robot will aid surgeons in carrying out complex surgeries on patients in a less invasive and shorter period of time.⁣⁣

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday (November 28) he was "deeply disappointed" after rich Western countries for their knee-jerk imposition of travel bans after hearing about the new variant. Ramaphosa also said the country faced a fourth wave of COVID-19 within weeks, as the new omicron variant was driving a rise in infections in the most populated province of Gauteng. He said authorities would not be considering economic lockdown restrictions for the time being, due to the availability of vaccines for those aged 12 and over.

South African papers vent their frustation over travel bans imposed after the country detected a new coronavirus variant. For l'Humanité, the Omicron variant is proof that "vaccine access for all is a global emergency". Other French papers examine the crisis in Guadeloupe and Martinique, puzzled by a proposal to give the territories more autonomy. Plus, a snow storm strands 61 people in a UK pub - a reminder that some lockdowns can be fun!

Blaming South Africa for the new COVID-19 variant is wrong. A global crisis needs a global response, says DW's Sertan Sanderson. Instead of finger-pointing and isolation, there should be more solidarity.

A fire erupted at the South African parliament in Cape Town on Sunday, with media coverage showing flames coming from the roof of the building and a plume of smoke that could be seen from some miles away. It wasn't immediately clear if anyone was in the building. The fire was on the third storey of the building and initial reports indicated that it started in the office space and spread towards a gym, said Jean-Pierre Smith, a Cape Town mayoral committee member responsible for safety and security.

Fire reignites at South African Parliament a day and a half after flames first broke out. A man is due in court this week in connection to the devastating blaze. The Sudanese army's power has grown following the resignation of civilian transitional PM Hamdok over the weekend. Generals now have sole governing authority as fatal tensions continue to deepen. And Kenyan conservationist Richard Leakey dies aged 77, after spending a life defending his country's endangered wildlife.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is waiting for the full release of the Zondo report before responding to its findings on state corruption. The first instalment of the investigation accuses former president Jacob Zuma of having encouraged graft by his closest allies during his time in power. Meanwhile in Tunisia, several critics of President Kais Saied are on hunger strike, denouncing unlawful arrests. Finally, preparations are in full swing in Cameroon's city of Bafoussam ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Israel's Health Ministry has recommended removing all the countries currently on an omicron no-fly list. The ministry also said Israelis should not travel to places with higher infection rates "without a good reason."

Find these stories and much more when you grab a copy of The Guardian on Friday.

Dope Saint Jude grew up in Cape Town, South Africa in a religious household. But in no way did that stop her from becoming one of the country's leading queer feminist rappers, bringing messages of hope and empowerment to the world. Her background in music production and brief stint as a drag king respectively paved the way for her beat-making skills and love for the stage. Her new EP "Higher Self" looks set to take her to the next level. Marjorie Hache sat down with her in Paris to chat about her career and some of her influences.

South African police Sergeant Busisiwe Mjwara was searching the Msunduzi River for three people who were swept away in heavy flooding when she and her dog drowned. Their deaths highlight the risks to emergency services personnel when they are called upon to save victims of extreme weather events, which are becoming more frequent as the climate warms.

Coal producers in South Africa try to recover some of the market share lost by Russia following Europe's sanctions. Some of them last traded with the continent more than a decade ago. Also, the Central African Republic makes Bitcoin its official currency alongside the CFA franc, but the move is raising eyebrows in a country with little internet access. And we take you to the Paris Saint-Germain football academy in Rwanda, six months after it opened.