Africa in Focus with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa

30 April 2026 

1.    South Afrika – Kenya – China 

China’s zero tariff push wins backing from South Africa and Kenya

Officials and business leaders in South Africa and Kenya are welcoming China’s new zero tariff policy for 53 African nations, saying it will open fresh trade opportunities, cut costs for small businesses, and strengthen economic ties across the continent

Beginning May 1, China will grant zero tariff access to goods from 53 African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Beijing.

1. South Afrika – Zambia 

The Zambian government and the family of former president Edgar Lungu are set for a legal confrontation in the High Court in  Tshwane today over the handling of his remains.

The dispute follows an urgent court order directing the Zambian authorities to return Lungu's body to a private mortuary, a ruling that came just hours after the government had acted on an earlier Gauteng High Court judgment permitting repatriation of the remains for a State funeral and burial in Zambia.

1. South Afrika -Benin 

Kemi Seba to remain in detention as hearing postponed

After a court postponed his hearing yesterday, anti-Western and Pan-Afrikan activist Kemi Seba will remain in detention until 11 May 2026.

 So, there's that atmosphere being created about how dangerous the man [Kemi Seba] is, yet he is not being charged with any level of dangerous or violent crime. 

Seba's lawyer has denied the accusations, describing them as exaggerated.

1. In our historical archives, it was on this day, 30 April 1982, when former Apartheid President P.W. Botha and Zambian Former President Kenneth Kaunda had a historic meeting.

This was the first meeting between any leader of a Front-Line State and a South African premier since the Victoria Falls meeting between Prime Minister B.J. Vorster and Kaunda on 25-26 August 1976. 

The two leaders were together for nearly 4 hours and parted amicably after approving a communique of just 4 sentences.