South African teen killer is sentenced. The White South African teen who went on a shooting spree that killed four people in a Black neighborhood was sentenced to four life terms in prison Friday, reports CNN. Two adults and two children, one three months old, the other 10 years old, were murdered during the spree, while the teen reportedly shouted racist slurs. Johan Nel was sentenced to 68 years for 11 counts of attempted murder, five years for possessing a firearm and three years for possessing ammunition, said Nell’s attorney, Frikkie Pretorius.  “I respect the court’s decision, [but] we are going to appeal,” Pretorius told CNN. “We believe there is a possibility that the court made a mistake.” Nel, who is now 19 but was 18 when he committed the crimes, confessed and pleaded guilty to the killings, so he wouldn’t have to stand trial, he said. But there were “compelling circumstances” the court didn’t consider, Pertorius said. The fact that Nel was home-schooled and didn’t learn how to socialize with Black children played a role in the crime, he said. A psychologist examined Nel and found he’s competent to stand trial, though. And the Congress of South African Trade Unions agreed with the sentencing. “No lesser sentence could possibly have been given for such an appalling crime, motivated purely by racist obsessions, for which there can be absolutely no mitigating circumstances,” a spokesman for the group said in a written statement. “COSATU agrees with the judge that there is no place for racially motivated violence in a democratic South Africa,” he said. The judge and prosecutor reportedly got death threats from people who hoped to stop them from giving Nel life sentences.
MTV holds its first African awards ceremony. MTV held its first award ceremony dedicated to Africans this weekend, reports the BBC. The MTV Africa Music Awards (the MAMAs) were held in Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, and Nigerians dominated, winning six out of the 10 awards. Nigerian rapper D’banj won the artist of the year award and best male award; another Nigerian rapper, Naeto C won best new act; and 9ice took home the best hip-hop award. A Kenyan singer, Wahu, won the award for best female act. American acts, such as Rapper The Game, Flo-rida and singer Kelly Rowland hit the stage to perform during the ceremony. And U.S. artists, such as Lil Wayne and Alicia Keys, were also nominated in different categories, even though it was an African ceremony. The legend award went to Fela Kuti, the late Nigerian who spearheaded the Afrobeat movement. Kuti’s children accepted the award in his honor. “We’ll keep it in our house, and when the time comes then we’ll take it to him,” they said. The late South African singer Miriam Makeba, “Mama Africa,” was also honored during the ceremony. Winners of the awards were selected by fans who sent text messages.

Here are the top five child-friendly African countries. As media reports show, children often end up being the biggest victims in many of Africa’s conflict-ridden nations. But in some African nations, TV news reports are the closest kids will get to war and fighting. A report released by the African Child Policy Forum Thursday ranked the top African countries for “child friendliness” reports CNN. The top five were Mauritius, Namibia, Tunisia, Libya and Morocco; the bottom five were Sao Tome and Principe, Gambia, Central African Republic, Eritrea and Guinea Bissau. Health care and education were among the 40 indicators the group used in the ranking. “Governments that have come out well on this index did so because they have done two things – they have put in place the relevant laws to protect children from abuse and exploitation, and they have targeted resources at the basic needs of children,” an adviser to the Ethiopia-based group said. Policies to protect children, not the nation’s wealth, were considered in the ranking. Some of the poorest nations ranked high because of their laws protecting children.

South African killer will be sentenced. The White South African teen who admitted earlier this week to killing four Black people (including two children) during a horrific shooting spree in January, will now face sentencing, reports the BBC. Johan Nel, 18, shouted racist slurs while he fired on the Black settlement killing two adults, a 10-year-old boy and a three-month-old baby, say witnesses. Thousands participated in fiery protests demanding Nel get life in prison for the murders. Nel was upset by the attacks by criminals, he told the court. A psychologist, Kobus Truter, found that Nel is mentally fit to stand trial and that he should be sentenced to between 20 and 25 years in prison. Nel thought Whites were being targeted for attack, when his family and friends were victimized by violent criminals, Truter said. Nel was charged with 11 counts of attempted murder, and with the four murders as a result of the spree.

White S. African pleads guilty of shooting Black kids. A White South African teen pleaded guilty Monday to shooting and killing four Blacks during a shocking shooting spree earlier this year, reports The Associated Press. Johan Nel, 18, appeared for the start of his trial in a court in Mmabatho, which is 185 miles away from Johannesburg. The courtroom was full of the victims’ family members. Prosecutors were set to present their case this week. Nel fired on children in deprived Black neighborhood back in January, according to witnesses.  After shooting relentlessly, he even stopped at one point to ask a farmer for more ammunition. When the farmer refused to provide him with any, he shot and killed his ostrich. A 3-month-old baby (who was being carried on his mom’s back), a 10-year-old boy, a 31-year-old mother and a 35-year-old man died from the attack.  

“Mama Africa” passes away at 76. One of Africa’s greatest music legends ever is dead after collapsing on stage during a performance in Italy this past weekend. Miriam Makeba suffered a heart attack early Monday following the late Sunday show. Makeba became known throughout the world for her songs in protest of South African apartheid. “Her haunting melodies gave voice to the pain of exile and dislocation which she felt for 31 long years,” former South African president Nelson Mandela said in a statement. “At the same time, her music inspired a powerful sense of hope in all of us.” Makeba was the first African woman to win a Grammy. She starred in 1959’s anti-apartheid documentary “Come Back, Africa” and, much later, made a guest appearance on “The Cosby Show.” Makeba was 76. Read more here.

Tight pants and miniskirts got women in Sudan arrested. Police in Sudan are getting some heat from the government after rounding up and arresting more than 30 women because they were wearing tight pants or mini skirts. Police, in the nation’s capital Juba, say they had a right to arrest the women because they’d previously put out an order banning “bad behavior and the importation of illicit cultures.” But one female government official, Gender Minister Mary Kinden, says they overstepped their boundaries as officers and had actually intruded on their human rights. “Girls were picked up from points like in the church and were hurled into police lorries and taken to the police station, some of them were beaten up, that is why the girls were very distressed,” Kimbo told the BBC. “I am against the police taking action single-handedly to round up everybody and start beating them because that is not their job.” The local mandate ordering punishment for “bad behavior” does not specifically elaborate on what would be considered “bad”; although police believe such behavior includes women wearing clothing they classify as inappropriate. The mandate does, however, give those found guilty a sentence of three months in prison. People found guilty a second time will also be fined $283. All of the women have since been freed.

South Africa will sell ivory to Asian nations. South Africa will sell 51 tons of ivory to China and Japan, despite some concerns from environmentalists, reports CNN.  African countries with a huge supply of elephant tusks would be allowed to make a one-off sale of ivory, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) said last year. But some were worried such a say would promote smuggling and thievery, reports CNN. Wildlife experts from South Africa made a visit to the two countries last month and decided they would not try to deal to the black market and met the strict conditions on trade involving endangered species.