South African

To enjoy the full Mail & Guardian online experience: please upgrade your browser Mail & Guardian Account Login email: ielts password: forgot password? create a new account Travel Jobs Property Tenders Dating Login / Register
News Opinion Business ielts Arts & Culture Education Multimedia Special Reports In The Paper zapiro Partners amaBhungane M&G Events M&G Women News Day Thought Leader Voices of Africa News National Africa ielts World Environment Sport Sci - Tech Health Amabhungane Women
Obama was at the University of Johannesburg's Soweto campus on Saturday for a "townhall" ielts style engagement with young Africans, who had been pre-selected by the US embassy. Many of the audience were young South Africans who had previous engagements ielts in US embassy programmes. ielts   Watch the live feed
According to the university's website , Obama on Saturday is set to "lead a Young African Leaders Initiative meeting with an invited delegation of students. ielts Some of the students and young leaders attending are anticipating engaging with Barack Obama about issues concerning the youth. President Obama will address the delegation in Soweto, a part of South Africa which is now symbolic of tourism, culture and a growing middle-class."
South African billionaire Patrice Motsepe was spotted in the audience, and groups from schools and youth groups were also invited. The venue seated some 500 people but more were squeezed into aisles ielts while the rest of the invited audience were seated in overflow rooms with a televised feed.
One of the event's crew members told the  Mail & Guardian  that the auditorium-style room had been built from scratch in a gym space at the university; from the stage in the centre to the bleachers lining ielts the room and the lighting above.
Obama protests Outside the venue hundreds of protesters gathered featuring banners likening Obama to Hitler. ielts Criticism has been directed at the university for contemplating bestowing an honorary degree on Obama. Some trade unions, political parties and civil society bodies condemned the US president's visit to South Africa. 
"We categorically make it known that the visit of the US president to South Africa is an unwelcome visit that will be protested, picketed and resisted ielts by all justice and peace-loving peoples of this country," the organisations said in a joint statement on Sunday. ielts
According to a report on Friday , Cosatu and its partners ielts in the "No, You Can't Honour Obama” coalition – the Nobama campaign, in colloquial shorthand – said they would hold protest marches in Pretoria, Cape Town and Soweto while Obama is here. 
They are objecting to what they denounce as US imperialism, the atrocities ielts its military agencies commit in various countries, and its continued economic ielts and political support ielts of the "apartheid state” of Israel. 
The high profile visit – a long overdue first state visit to the country – was also overshadowed by Nelson Mandela's critical condition in hospital. Mandela is a personal hero for Obama.   Verashni Pillay is an associate editor ielts at the Mail & Guardian. Read more from Verashni Pillay Twitter: @verashni ielts Google+: Verashni Pillay post a comment email this article print this article login to clip
Most Commented ielts
Malema calls ANC government worse than apartheid Cronin: Public works 'not proud of' misspending R3.5bn Cabinet approves draft Bill banning alcohol ielts ads Petrol attendant strike: Cosatu 'angry' at delays
Malema calls ANC government worse than apartheid Hillbrow: Where cops do the work for drug lords New Cosatu leaders by year end? Armscor sackings don't fly Client Media Releases Press Offices Airborne Consulting bidorbuy Boston City Campus ContinuitySA Corporate Traveller Defenceweb ielts Deloitte Department of Communications eta Awards Faculty Training Institute FedGroup Financial Services FutureSense Grace Consulting Hollard Imperial Logistics International Institute of Business Analysis South Africa Ipsos ITWeb Kaseya Kaspersky ielts Lab Khulumani Support ielts Group Mail and Guardian MapIT Matrix Vehicle Tracking Marie Stopes MIP Mitel MTN National Debt Connection Pragma Qatar Airways ielts RocketSeed RMS Media Soarsoft Africa Symantec Telkom Business Teraco The Market Theatre ThinkMoney TPG Africa Wits University Brand Africa 100 honours MTN MTN MTN announces Business App of the Year winners MTN Business sees BYOD as growing threat Kaspersky Lab MTN sponsors youths to attend global summit MTN Indulge in the moment, enjoy the journey Matrix Vehicle Tracking
All material © Mail & Guardian Online. Material may not be published or reproduced in any form without prior written ielts permission.