Nelson Mandela Died In June: Family Finally Admit

Nelson Mandela’s funeral was planned a year ago. The Nelson Mandela family has finally admitted that Nelson Mandela is dead by announcing on December 5th (2013) that the former leader of South Africa is no longer with us.

The charade began in June of 2013, and Guardian Express has maintained Mandela has been deceased since we were informed of his passing in June via one of our reporters embedded in South Africa. That reporter had received a text message from her close friend who works for the South African News which stated that Mandela had died the night prior.

Since June, The Guardian Express has come under attack; first from a “denial of service” attack which shut the site down on and off for three days right after we published the news that Mandela had died. That denial of service attack was traced back to South Africa.

The Guardian Express was also attacked by people denying that the Nelson Mandela family was carrying on a charade. However, we stood by and continue to stand by our account that Mandela was declared permanently brain dead with total organ failure in June of 2013. Now, today, the family has finally decided to give up their charade.

We sent an additional reporter to South Africa who returned with an audio recording of two top government officials confirming the fact that Mandela was totally brain dead and was declared so on June 11. However, his family refused to turn off the life support machines hooked up to his body. Thus, the family could keep him artificially “alive.” Their motive? To settle a huge lawsuit against Mandela’s estate.

It was revealed that Mandela’s family was suing him for control of his estate and since it is impossible to sue a dead person, it seems Mandela had to be kept “alive” with machines until a resolution could be found for the lawsuit. Thus far, there is no word on whether that lawsuit had been settled, but there are already many speculations in the press that this announcement today will begin the battles over the Mandela estate afresh.

The Mandela daughters and granddaughters have shown a good deal of greed when it comes to Mandela’s legacy. It has been reported that their fighting over his money got so bad that Mandela “lost faith” in his daughters and worried that their concern over money was overshadowing their concern for family harmony.

The Mandela funeral was planned a year in advance, according to reports. The funeral date is set for December 14 and there is a comprehensive schedule of events leading up to that date. The Mandela family has finally given up their charade which they have been carrying on since June and have admitted the former South African leader is dead.

Source: The Guardian Express

Kenyan Senator Caught Photoshopping Nelson Mandela Tribute Picture

A Kenyan senator who posted an image of himself with Nelson Mandela on his Facebook account has been caught out after it was exposed as a photoshopped picture.
The image was posted on Mike Sonko's Facebook page last Friday along with the caption: "A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination".  The original picture however is Mandela smiling with the boxer Muhammad Ali. The photoshopped image features Mike Sonko wearing a pair of sunglasses, looking toward the camera.  The photo has also been edited to feature an outdoor background.  He tagged 10 other people in the image, which has been shared almost 700 times on Facebook.

Members of the public mocked the photo in the comments. They pointed out that when the photo was taken, Mr Sonko would have been just a young boy.  Most of the comments thought the image was funny, which has been 'liked' more than 5,000 times.

Sam Muthwike commented below: "We have very true leaders... a talent for sure!"
Other users pointed out that Mr Sonko was not as tall as the image suggested.  Some were more offended by the image, however. Peter Ogwankwa Muma said on Facebook "It's distasteful to manipulate pictures of Nelson Mandela for self gratification at this time."

He was pictured in sunglasses, a red hat and a shirt of Kenyan colours earlier on Thursday at an event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Kenyan independence from Britain.  However, he was also photographed at the same event drinking from a water bottle printed with the union flag on.

Mr Sonko was elected as an MP for Nairobi in 2010, but was kicked out after he refused to take off his earrings and sunglasses in parliament. He was elected as a senator for Nairobi earlier this year.

Source: telegraph.co.uk

Hilarious South Park Spoof - Zume Getting Boo'd Off Stage!!!

This is awesome, would LOVE to see a full episode on this...

Here is the link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aANJimNJLw

‘Schizophrenic’ Interpreter Goes On Defensive

Jantjie took the usual step of defending his inept performance at the memorial by questioning why, if he was so bad at his job, it hadn’t been pointed out before, which is a bit like a defendant querying a guilty verdict on the grounds that he’d committed the same crime several times in the past without being caught.

In an interview with 702’s John Robbie, Jantjie proved to be as articulate with his mouth as he is with his hands. Asked how he felt about the universal condemnation of his signing at the memorial, he responded:

“It’s very sad at this present moment, because I believe that it was the issue that had to be dealt with earlier. If Deaf South Africa have a query against my interpreting, it was supposed to be put it into clarity a long time ago and not during this crucial time in our country.”

When Robbie pointed out that people from around the world had criticised him, he repeated the argument.

“If I was interpreting not right, why it has not been pick up by that time I was busy, you must remember you are talking about an interpreter who has been interpreting throughout these years, and then if I was interpreting wrong through these years, why should it become an issue now? It’s one of these questions that I will never ever get the answer from it.”

Asked if he as happy with his signing abilities, and more specifically, his performance at the memorial, he said:

“Absolutely! Absolutely! What I’ve been doing, I think that I’ve been a champion of sign language, as I was saying that you know I have interpreted in many big events, not only the event that’s in question now."

Referencing media reports in which Jantjie was quoted as claiming he suffered from schitzophrenia, Robbie asked him if this was indeed the case. The “champion of sign language” chose to play it mum however, saying he would rather not discuss his medical status on the grounds that it would harm his children (he would later admit to using medication for the disorder).

However, Jantjie had earlier told IOL.co.za not only that he suffered from Schizophrenia, but that a bout of intense happiness or pressure experienced during the memorial had triggered an episode characterised by visual and sonic hallucinations .

“There was nothing I could do. I was alone in a very dangerous situation. I tried to control myself and not show the world what was going on. I am very sorry, it’s the situation I found myself in.”

Jantjie claimed that despite the fact that he was suddenly plagued by visual hallucinations, and hearing loud voices in his head, he felt it best to persevere in making random signs with his hands in the hope that no one would notice anything was wrong. He went on to suggest that he was in fact the victim in this story, and not the many deaf people deprived of the chance to comprehend, in the moment, what was being said during the memorial.

“Life is unfair. This illness is unfair. Anyone who doesn’t understand this illness will think that I’m just making this up,” he said.

The 34-year-old supports himself through interpreting for the deaf, and said he would be paid R850 for the event.

Meanwhile, the SA Translator’s Institute (Sati) released a statement on Wednesday, questioning Jantjies motives and integrity.

"We suspect there was something underhand about him. How else was he working on such an important occasion when he did not seem to know what he was doing?" said chairman of Sati, Johan Blaauw.

Blaauw went on to blast the ANC for failing to intervene when the interpreter proved entirely inept.

"The ANC did not do anything," he said . "I'm afraid this thing has left the whole of South Africa with egg on its face."

"That person was not using sign language, not even signs accepted in the sign language."

To watch a clip of Jantjie plying his trade at an official ANC function, click here.

Flash Mob: In Honour of Tata Madiba

It was just a normal Saturday morning in a Woolworths store in Parkview. 

South Africans were still recovering from the sad news of Nelson Mandela’s passing on 5 December.

Then a little magic happened in the aisles of the popular food and clothing store that touched everyone's heart.   A flash mob by the Soweto Gospel Choir paid tribute to South Africa’s hero.

The results were touching and truly inspiring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHHjP7XrBq0

Source: News24

Farewell Madiba: Zuma Addresses The Nation

"When a man has done what he considers to be his duty to his people and his country, he can rest in peace. I believe I have made that effort and that is, therefore, why I will sleep for the eternity" - Nelson Mandela 1918-2013.

Former president Nelson Mandela, surrounded by his family, died peacefully at his home in Johannesburg last night, President Jacob Zuma said.

“Although we knew that this day would come, nothing can diminish our sense of a profound and enduring loss,” Zuma said addressing the nation on television.

“His tireless struggle for freedom earned him the respect of the world.”

In Zuma's address to the nation, he said: "His humility, his compassion, and his humanity earned him their love. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mandela family. To them we owe a debt of gratitude. They have sacrificed much and endured much so that our people could be free."

"Our thoughts are with his friends, comrades and colleagues who fought alongside Madiba over the course of a lifetime of struggle.

Our thoughts are with the South African people who today mourn the loss of the one person who, more than any other, came to embody their sense of a common nationhood.

Our thoughts are with the millions of people across the world who embraced Madiba as their own, and who saw his cause as their cause.

This is the moment of our deepest sorrow. Our nation has lost its greatest son.

Yet, what made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human. We saw in him what we seek in ourselves. And in him we saw so much of ourselves.

Fellow South Africans, Nelson Mandela brought us together, and it is together that we will bid him farewell.

Our beloved Madiba will be accorded a State Funeral -

I have ordered that all flags of the Republic of South Africa be lowered to half-mast from tomorrow, 6 December, and to remain at half-mast until after the funeral.

As we gather to pay our last respects, let us conduct ourselves with the dignity and respect that Madiba personified.

Let us be mindful of his wishes and the wishes of his family.

As we gather, wherever we are in the country and wherever we are in the world, let us recall the values for which Madiba fought.

Let us reaffirm his vision of a society in which none is exploited, oppressed or dispossessed by another.

Let us commit ourselves to strive together – sparing neither strength nor courage – to build a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous South Africa.

Let us express, each in our own way, the deep gratitude we feel for a life spent in service of the people of this country and in the cause of humanity.

This is indeed the moment of our deepest sorrow. Yet it must also be the moment of our greatest determination -

A determination to live as Madiba has lived, to strive as Madiba has strived and to not rest until we have realised his vision of a truly united South Africa, a peaceful and prosperous Africa, and a better world.

We will always love you Madiba!

May your soul rest in peace.

God Bless Africa.

Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika."

The man who changed history is no more -

And we will cherish him forever – for his dignity, his leadership, his love for people of all colours and most of all because he forgave us all.

Mandela's life: a short summary -

• Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (Xhosa pronunciation: born 18 July 1918) was a South African politician who served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, the first ever president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election.
• Before being elected President, Mandela was a militant anti-apartheid activist, and the leader and co-founder of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC).
• In 1962 he was arrested and convicted of sabotage and other charges, and sentenced to life imprisonment.
• Mandela went on to serve 27 years in prison, spending many of these years on Robben Island.
• Following his release from prison on 11 February 1990, Mandela led his party in the negotiations that led to the establishment of democracy in 1994.
• As President, he frequently gave priority to reconciliation, while introducing policies aimed at combating poverty and inequality in South Africa.
• In South Africa, Mandela is often known as Madiba, his Xhosa clan name; or as tata (Xhosa: father).
• Mandela has received more than 250 awards over four decades, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize.

Paul Walker's Family Dispute "Death By Drag-racing" Rumours

'The Fast and the Furious' star was killed alongside his friend, Roger Rodas, when the Porsche they were travelling in smashed into a post in Santa Clarita, California, but his sister strongly denies he was involved in a speeding competition with another car at the time

Ashlie Walker, 37, told the MailOnline: "They were absolutely not racing, that's a complete lie. It hurts us when we hear these lies and it makes our grief worse and more painful.

"These are irresponsible allegations and people are trying to make out speed and racing was the reason for his death when it was just a terrible accident."
The area where Paul and Roger - who was driving - crashed was known as a popular spot for drag-racing, and a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's office has said authorities received a phone call on Sunday (01.12.13) suggesting another car was involved when the 2005 Porsche Carrera GT crashed

Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff's Station traffic investigators have now ruled out the involvement of a second vehicle. However, it does appear that Paul and Roger were breaking the 45 miles per hour [72 kms per hour] speed limit of the road.

A source told website RadarOnline: "Though the investigation is in its early stages, investigators from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department believe the Porsche was going over160 kms per hour."

Fast & Furious Star Paul Walker Killed In Car Crash

The actor Paul Walker, who found success starring in the popular car-racing franchise, has died in an automobile accident in Los Angeles aged 40.

The actor was travelling as a passenger in a new Porsche when his friend who was driving - who has been described as an "experienced driver" - lost control of the vehicle and collided with a street light, and then a tree.

The LA County Sheriff's department has confirmed that two people died in a collision in Santa Clarita, north of Los Angeles, at 3:30pm on Saturday, but Walker's death was confirmed by his representatives on his official Facebook page, and then by his publicist, Ame Van Iden.

"It is with a truly heavy heart that we must confirm that Paul Walker passed away today in a tragic car accident while attending a charity event for his organisation Reach Out Worldwide," reads the Facebook update.

"He was a passenger in a friend's car, in which both lost their lives. We appreciate your patience as we too are stunned and saddened beyond belief by this news. Thank you for keeping his family and friends in your prayers during this very difficult time. We will do our best to keep you apprised on where to send condolences. - #TeamPW."

The Reach Out Worldwide event was a car show aimed at generating aid for the Philippines typhoon relief effort. It appears Walker, who was an investor in a nearby automobile shop called Always Evolving, took the Porsche GT, which was on show at Reach Out Worldwide, for a drive.

Photos released from the crash scene show both street light and tree collapsed, alongside a completely wrecked vehicle, which was evidently engulfed in flames following the accident. Antonio Holmes, a friend of Walker and of the driver, who he called "Roger", was nearby and ran to the crash site in a futile attempt to try and extinquish the blaze.

"We all ran around and jumped in cars and grabbed fire extinguishers and immediately went to the vehicle. It was engulfed in flames. There was nothing. They were trapped. Employees, friends of the shop. We tried. We tried. We went through fire extinguishers," he told the Santa Clarita Signal.

"Him and his buddy, his brother in arms at heart just decided to joyride, take a spin. Something we all do. We're all car enthusiasts … We're all here driving, enjoying each other, and God must've needed help."

Universal Pictures, the studio behind the Fast and Furious franchise, released a statement on Saturday evening. "All of us at Universal are heartbroken," it read. "Paul was truly one of the most beloved and respected members of our studio family for 14 years, and this loss is devastating to us, to everyone involved with the Fast and Furious films, and to countless fans."

The sentiment was echoed by Walker's Fast and Furious co-star Vin Diesel, who posted a photo of the pair on his Instagram account with the caption: "Brother I will miss you very much. I am absolutely speechless. Heaven has gained a new Angel. Rest in Peace."

Other colleagues took to Twitter to express their grief. "All my strength, love & faith to the Walker family during this heartbreaking time. We find our strength.. in his light. Love you brother," wrote Dwayne Johnson on his @TheRock account. Johnson had joined the cast of Fast and Furious for its two most recent instalments, and was due to return for the seventh, which had just begun filming.

Tyrese Gibson, who co-starred in the films, posted: "My heart is hurting so bad. No one can make me believe this is real." Director Roland Emmerich wrote that he was "extremely saddened", while James Wanposted "I am so beyond heartbroken right now. I can't process anything."

Wan was working with Walker on Fast and Furious 7; the actor had already completed work on what looks likely to be his final films, a Hurricane Katrina drama called Hours, and a thriller called Brick Mansions. In the latter he plays an undercover cop, just as in the initial The Fast and the Furious his character, Brian O'Connor, was part of an undercover LAPD operation to infiltrate a street racing circuit. The film ended with O'Connor transferring his loyalties to the apparent criminals.

The son of a model and a sewer contractor, he grew up in Los Angeles, in a working class Mormon household. Child modelling assignments helped keep the family afloat financially (he was the eldest of five) and launched a career that started on TV then moved to the big screen with 1998 comedy Meet the Deedles, then supporting roles in Pleasantville, Varsity Blues and She's All That.

It was his turn in 2000 thriller The Skulls which brought him to the attention of the Fast and Furious producer. Notable other roles included the lead in genial huskies drama Eight Below, and a part in Clint Eastwood's Iwo Jima epic The Flags of our Fathers. The day before his death, he posted an update to Twitter expressing his excitement about the upcoming seventh instalment: "The boys are back. Will you be ready? - #TeamPW #FastFridays"

The actor is survived by a 15-year-old daughter, Meadow.

Source:  The Guardian