The upcoming elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo have garnered significant attention and speculation. Despite initial concerns about potential postponements or delays, the campaign season officially began on November 19. One interesting aspect of the elections is the Union Sacré de la Nation, the majority platform in power, which has demonstrated the popularity of its favored candidate, Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, who is affectionately known as Fatshi Beton.
Felix Antoine Tshisekedi’s candidacy has been marked by a series of undeniable successes that have solidified his chances of victory. This has made him a formidable contender in the upcoming elections. His track record and leadership qualities have resonated with the population, who see him as a reliable successor to further advance the Union Sacré de la Nation’s agenda.
On the other hand, the opposition has faced challenges in uniting around a single candidate. Solo adventures and personal ambitions have weakened their collective strength. However, there have been notable efforts to gather support for alternative candidates within the opposition. Moïse Katumbi’s diplomacy has successfully won the support of key political figures such as Matata Mponyo, Dénis Sésanga, Frank Diongo, and Set Kikuni. Despite this, there have been voices of concern, such as Denis Mukwege, whose moral integrity was questioned amidst allegations of insincerity in the process of choosing a common opposition candidate.
An important figure within the opposition, Martin Fayulu, has maintained his independent stance by presenting himself as the sole ideal joint candidate. Fayulu’s refusal to support any other opponent’s candidacy underscores his belief that he is the most suitable candidate to challenge the incumbent power and bring about much-needed change.
As the elections draw near, the political landscape in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains dynamic and unpredictable. The campaign season has unveiled a diverse range of candidates and political strategies, leaving the population with the task of carefully weighing their options and deciding which path they believe will lead to a better future for their country. The outcome of the elections will undoubtedly shape the destiny of the nation and will be closely watched by both domestic and international observers.
It has taken four years of legal battles, but now if you were born in South Africa to foreign parents you can apply for citizenship.
It has been an “agonizing journey” for those who consider South Africa to be their only home.
The Department of Home Affairs opposition to the court bid by five adults, representing others in a similar situation, for the vindication of their rights, was dealt a death blow by the Constitutional Court last week. The court simply ruled that it would not hear any further argument on the matter.
The department had not filed its papers in time, and it had not given good reason for this.
What this means for Mariam Ali, Aden Salih, Kanu Nkololo, Caroline Masuki, Murphy Nganga and any others “similarly situated” is that their previous victory in the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) now stands.
In terms of that order, the minister must accept their applications for citizenship and make a decision within ten days.
The SCA declared that if you were born in South Africa to foreign parents who have not been admitted as permanent residents, you qualify to apply for South African citizenship upon becoming a major if your birth was registered and if you have lived here all your life, irrespective of the date of your birth.
It also ordered the minister to enact the necessary forms to allow for such applications within one year. Pending this, he must accept applications on affidavit.
The application, brought with the assistance of the Legal Resources Centre (LRC), was first set down in the Western Cape High Court.
It was argued that the centre’s clients had all complied with the Citizenship Amendment Act which came into effect in January 2013. They were all born in South Africa to foreign parents and they had all turned 18. But their applications for citizenship under naturalisation laws were being refused.
In fact, they said, they were being told that such an application form did not even exist.
In that court, the minister argued that the act only applied to children born after January 2013 and could not be applied retrospectively. In fact, his lawyers argued, it did not even apply to children who turned 18 after that date but only to children born after that date.
Any retrospective application would create “an unnecessary flow of applications and burden the already strained resources of the department”.
The Western Cape High Court ruling in favour of the centre’s clients was taken on appeal to the SCA by the minister.
There, the Home Affairs changed its argument. Retrospectivity was no longer an issue.
Instead, it was argued that those affected should have put the minister on terms to deal with their applications and, if they were refused, they could then launch court proceedings to review and set aside the decisions.
“But this was untenable,” the judges said. “It is difficult to understand on what basis the minister could have made any decision. They were never given an opportunity to apply. They were just turned away.
“The argument is consistent with the ongoing attempts to frustrate and delay their application. It is not in the interests of justice to send them from pillar to post simply because the minister adopted a supine attitude that the regulations will only be promulgated in due course.”
They were being treated unfairly, the court ruled, dismissing the appeal.
Sherylle Dass, LRC Regional Director, Cape Town, said they had opposed the state’s application for leave to appeal to the Constitutional Court, saying it was an attempt to have a “second bite of the cherry” in spite of conceding the bulk of their submissions in the lower courts.
“Despite these concessions, some ten months later, the state decided to change its stance. We believed it was an abuse of process. They plainly had no reasonable prospects of success and again it showed a total disregard for taxpayers who have to foot the bill for these types of vexatious proceedings.”
She said that during those ten months, when there was no indication of any appeal, the clients had submitted their citizenship applications but they were not dealt with.
“Following the dismissal of their appeal, we will now be demanding the adjudication of those citizenship applications and we will approach the courts if necessary should a decision not be made within ten days in accordance with the SCA ruling.
“Our clients have had to endure a long and painful journey to obtain citizenship with some of them all but giving up hope of being finally accepted by a country they have grown to love; the only country they have called home.
“A large part of this agonizing journey could have been avoided if decision-makers within the Department of Home Affairs exercised reason and caution by not arbitrarily abusing the court processes to delay and frustrate the exercise of the clear and unequivocal right of these applicants.”
Discover the great values of the continent with Miss African Culture Top Model (MACTM).
Evelyne Filloi, Winner of MACTM 2022
The Masters Mind
The MACTM is the brainchild of four unique individuals, each contributing their own skills and passions to the project.Mrs Viviane Pounguy Tsimba-SACo-Founder and Director of Miss African Culture Top Model and Business Expo, and the Founder and Director General of Little Steps College. She is passionate about educating the youth and women across Africa.Mr Prince Justice Ngoma-SACo-Founder and Director of Miss African Culture Top Model and Business Expo, and the Founder and Director General of TGV, The Generation Vision, which is passionate about the digitisation and connectivity of Africa.Given MadanhireCo-Founder and Director of Miss African Culture Top Model and Business Expo. He is also a renowned author and personal development trainer, dedicated to helping people achieve their full potential.Mrs Berverly Paly-SACo-Founder and Director of Miss African Culture Top Model and Business Expo, and Founder and Director of Farmers Harvest, an Agriculture and Agroprocessing enterprise which is passionate about being a part of the solution to Africa’s Primary SDG’s – ZERO HUNGER.
Miss African Culture Top Model: Past Winners
Miss Doligrace Franchelle Mobouma (2021)Miss Doligrace Franchelle Mobouma was the proud winner of the Miss African Culture Top Model 2021. She was awarded a full scholarship and is currently studying in Cape Town, South Africa, at Little Steps College.
Evelyne Filloi (2022)On the 19th of November, the Miss Africaine Culture Top Model Grand Final took place, where the judges crowned Guinea Conakry’s Miss Evelyne Filloi as Miss Africaine Culture Top Model International Queen 2022.
Miss African Culture Top Model 2023: Candidates for the Crown
As we look forward to the Miss African Culture Top Model 2023, contestants from various countries including Gabon, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Zambia, Nigeria, Cameroun, Namibia, South Africa, Angola, Central Africa, Zimbabwe, and Senegal, Rwanda, Burundi, Congo Brazzaville and Congo DRC are gearing up to compete for the crown.
Agenda 2023
The Miss African Culture Top Model 2023 will spend her time in Cape Town, South Africa, studying through a scholarship that she was awarded by Little Steps College. The MACTM organization will ensure that she gets to immerse herself in the arts, culture and heritage of South Africa while empowering her with the skills she needs to achieve her life goals and career ambitions.
Miss African Culture Top Model 2023: Event Schedule
The 2023 event schedule is packed with activities, starting from the 27th of November 2023 with the Delegates International Arrivals, and ending on the 4th of December 2023 with the Delegates Departures. The Grand Final and Gala Concert will take place on the 2nd of December.
Congo Square News 
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