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By Sifiso Mahlangu Feb 8, 2021

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Johannesburg - The tea party between former president Jacob Zuma and EFF leader Julius Malema gripped the nations attention on Friday with politicians and the media in the dark over what the tea meeting was about.

At about 12.30pm on Friday, a helicopter belonging to a company known only as V&R Holdings descended on Zumas homestead in Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal.

Malema was accompanied by former EFF chairperson and legal heavyweight Dali Mpofu and spokesperson Vuyani Pambo.

From Zumas side there was Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina, ANC NEC member Tony Yengeni and, joining the tea later, Zumas daughter Duduzile.

Independent Media has learnt that ANC treasurer-general Paul Mashatile met Zuma in June last year for discussions on Zumas court cases, with the ANC promising to assist Zuma with the fees involved in his legal cases.

Masina and Yengeni have engaged Zuma and Malema on a possible reconciliation. Malema, who was instrumental in Zumas rise to power in 2007, had a fallout with Zuma when the ANC expelled him in 2012.

Independent Media is reliably informed that Masina began to negotiate a truce between Zuma and Malema in 2019. The truce party is now called the Black Team in Zumas younger batch of NEC supporters.

One of the Black Teams first roles would be to mobilise for the amendment of Section 25 of the Constitution.

The Black Team, which occasionally meets at the home of NEC member Mduduzi Manana, has also resolved to deliver a youthful presidency in 2024.

The youthful presidency seems to define the forming of a new alliance with Malema as president, Floyd Shivambu as deputy president and some ANC leaders in the top leadership structure.

In another startling discovery, the new alliance would be relooking at President Cyril Ramaphosas role in the Marikana massacre of 2012.

Stirring a storm in a teacup, the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal says it wants to meet with Zuma this week to understand the basis of having a tea meeting with Malema in the current environment.

It would be premature for us to have an informed view of the matter without understanding the basis of having that tea meeting in the current environment.

Well be seeing him (Zuma) between now and the end of this coming week, and surely we will get to understand the context of the tea meeting and the purpose for which it was arranged, ANC KZN provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli said.

The EFF, still coy about the minutes of the tea party, have since not answered any questions.

Zuma has confirmed to Independent Media that he will not grace the Zondo Commission with his presence.

Asked about the new alliance, Zuma responded: I am happy with the tea meeting. It was what our democracy needed.

It is reported that Zuma and Malema resolved to meet in Joburg again in about a weeks time.

The Star

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ANC in KZN wants to meet with Zuma to understand why he had tea meeting with Malema - Independent Online

Two new versions of a must-have Disney Parks accessory have arrived at Walt Disney World. We found brand new MagicBand designs at MouseGear at EPCOT today. Featuring something shiny and something whimsical, these styles are sure to brighten up your park-going outfit!

We found an earlier version of this MagicBand in pink glitter at Walt Disney World, but now you can truly shine bright like a diamond with this MagicBand.

This MagicBand is enrobed in glittering silver and features a solid light grey puck.

Previously, the Passholder-exclusive MagicBands featured some of our favorite characters to commemorate 2020. Now, its Daisys turn to celebrate 2021 with her own MagicBand design.

This MagicBand has a light pink base, providing a great contrast of colors for the printed overlay.

Daisy Duck is featured taking a spin on the Mad Tea Party attraction on this MagicBand.

The opposite end of the MagicBand features 2021 Passholder with the Walt Disney World Resort logo running along it.

New 2021 designs, available only to Passholders, will be released throughout the year. Details on this special Annual Passholder offering can be found here.

Which design will you be grabbing? Let us know in the comments!

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PHOTOS: New Silver Glitter and Annual Passholder 2021 Daisy Duck "Mad Tea Party" MagicBands Arrive at Walt Disney World - wdwnt.com

Westend61Getty Images

Americans may be a coffee swilling crowd, but tea drinking has a long history stateside. From classic souther iced tea to the global impact of the Boston tea party, this simple sip has had a starring role on the American stage for as long as we've been a countryin fact, in the 1860s, those precious leaves made up more than 60% of the United States' imports from China. While coffee may have overtaken tea in our popular consciousness, the classic brew remains a fan favorite, and with the rise of wellness culture, more of us are gravitating toward the antioxidant power of tea.

Whether you're adding a cuppa to your relaxation routine, using it for your morning jolt, or sipping for your health, these are the brands you need to stock your cabinet (and teapot) with.

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DavidsTea

Even the most jaded tea lover could find something new and deliciousin the selection of thisCanadian tea emporium. From classic loose leafteas to esoteric blends like Cookie Dough and Bahama Mama, there's no shortage of options for every taste. Can't decide? They also offer a subscription service to let you test out a sampling of seasonal favorites delivered right to your door.

More: The Best Subscription Boxes for Everyone

Bellocq

Based out ofGreenpoint, Brooklyn, this exclusivetea emporium specialized in single origin,whole leaf pureteas and unique, eleganthandmade blendsthat are perfect for true tea aficionados.

Fortnum & Mason

$79.95

Want to drink like a royal? This three century oldLondon-based brand holds Royal Warrants from both the Queen and the Prince of Wales making it an official British favorite and the perfect way to add a little extra elegance to your morning routine.

Palais des Ths

For those who want a tea that looks as pretty as it tastes, stock up on colorful tins of this French tea brand's blends of globally inspired teas likeTh du Hammam,Chai Imprial, andParis for Her.

Tea Forte

If you're going for presentation points, look no further than these delightful standalone pyramids filled with whole leaf blends likeChamomile Citron,Lemon Lavender, andMountain Oolong.

Vahdam Teas

Taste some of the best (not to mention most beautiful) teas India has to offer withVahdam. Not only are theycertified climate- and plastic-neutral, but a portion of their proceeds go to improving educational opportunitiesinIndia too, so it's a cup you can feel good about brewing.

Kusmi Tea

Kusmi may have been founded in St. Petersburg in 1867 and become a favorite of the tsars, but nowadays theirraison d'etreis to create delicious, accessible, unpretentious teas that even the tea-skeptical can appreciate. Look to them for everything fromhistoric Russian blends to modern twists like detox teas.

Harney & Sons

This family-run New York based tea seller offers high-quality teas that look and taste far fancier than their price tag would suggest. Their selection runs the gamut from classic go-tos like English Breakfast to fruity blends like Blueberry Green, fan-favorite Hot Cinnamon Spice, and wellness teas made withAyurvedic principals and hemp infusions.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

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The Best Tea Brands of 2021- Best Luxury Tea Brands - TownandCountrymag.com

The Family Place in Weyburn held a very special party for their students last week.

It was a magical morning in the Mini Go program as Disney's Elsa, Merida, Belle, and Beast all visited the children at the Royal Tea Party.

"In our Mini Go program we usually do quite a bit more activities with the children throughout the year than we're currently allowed to do with COVID-19 restrictions," explained Dawn Gutzke, Executive Director with The Family Place in Weyburn. "So what we've been trying to do is just make daily classes fun and exciting for the kids. So the teachers were doing a Disney themed week and we have all of the Disney costumes here at The Family Place. So we just had some staff members dress up as some princesses and Beauty and the Beast and we surprised the kids with a royal ball upstairs."

The Family Place used to run their Royal Ball as a local Fundraiser. However, this year they have had to make some changes due to the pandemic.

"So we actually have all of the costumes and we've never done one here at The Family Place with the kids," Gutzke stated. "So we thought it would be something fun and during these times when it might be less exciting for the kids, we thought we'd try to make their days more fun. Just seeing the kids' faces staring at us and they really enjoyed the dancing. The kids were really just in awe. It's not every day that they see princesses walk into The Family Place."

The Family Place staff are now optimistically looking forward at 2021 and planning for a busy and exciting year for the kids.

"So we're just trying to think outside of the box about what we can do within the community to just help people get through these times," added Gutzke. "So on Tuesday this week we're taking the children outside in their snow gear and we're actually going to play on the front yard of Hill Top Manor. And then we can just have the seniors watch out the window and have a morning of enjoyment watching the children play in the snow, and build some snowmen, and wave through the windows to try and bring some community cheer to them. We'll definitely be there playing at 10:30 AM."

For more information on The Family Place in Weyburn feel free to follow them on Facebook.

Below we have some more photos from the Royal Tea Party. (All images courtesy of Dawn Gutzke)

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Family Place Surprising Kids With Royal Tea Party - Discoverweyburn.com - DiscoverWeyburn.com

By STEVE ERKENBRACK

There are two schools of thought as to how the president should approach Congress to bring COVID relief to the country. One is to negotiate a bipartisan package with Republicans; the other is for Democrats, having won control of both Houses of Congress and the White House, to pass a bill on a partisan basis, without Republican input or support. Tempting as it is to flex political muscles, such a single-party approach can have unforeseen and unproductive consequences.

Santayana observed that those who ignore history are condemned to repeat it, a concept more succinctly stated by Yogi Berra: Its dj vu all over again. Guided by such wisdom, it may be prudent to consider two pertinent precedents when a new president was leading our country out of a crisis.

Lesson No. 1: Healthcare in 2009

As Barack Obama took office, health-care reform was his top agenda item, after his immediate efforts to arrest the worst impacts of the financial crisis of 2008. Obamas initial strategic steps were planned to engage both parties in Congress, incorporate both Republican and Democratic ideas, preempt turf wars, craft bills in the House and in the Senate that would pass those respective chambers, and then iron out the differences in a conference committee.

The complexity of health care created numerous issues that took time to address. As months passed, many Democrats became impatient, and the Tea Party arose among Republicans. Partisanship supplanted problem-solving, and contention replaced compromise. The impassioned base of each party bristled at bipartisanship, with the result that health-care reform was enacted without a single Republican vote.

It was a short-term win with long-term ramifications. Republicans vowed to undermine the law. Even the good parts of the act expanded coverage, transparency in insurance pricing, limits on insurance profits, protections for consumers were attacked. Repeal and replace became the theme of the next three congressional campaigns. When Rs took power, they de-funded every thing they could, and a few things they couldnt.

The aftermath of the law and its contentious implementation was a decade of health-care policy marked by stumbling, grumbling and bumbling. Small employers and consumers endured double-digit increases in costs year after year. Smaller entities in the health-care delivery system whether hospitals, physician practices or community health plans struggled. Many failed, others merged and lost their identity.

Things have finally settled down, but the parties still cannot find a way to revisit the law, and improve it to address lessons learned and markets changed. Most significantly, partisanship has precluded addressing what is still the key problem: the high cost of health care.

Lesson No. 2: Civil Rights in 1963

The true test of being a Baby Boomer is the ability to answer the question: Where were you when John Kennedy was shot? That assassination is indelibly etched in our minds, because it traumatized the nation. Lyndon Johnson succeeded JFK, and faced both a country in shock and a civil rights movement about to explode. And while his Democratic Party controlled both houses of Congress, conservatives had blocked JFKs agenda on tax cuts and civil rights.

White House staff had spent two years trying to steamroll congressional opponents. LBJ had a shrewder approach. He started with the tax bill, which had been held up by the chair of the Senate Finance Committee. He met with the man. He talked. He listened. He learned that the senator opposed the bill because of the ever-increasing federal budget. Johnson asked where the committee chair wanted to set the federal budget, and was told it should be cut to less than $100 billion (ah, those were the days.) Johnson found ways to cut the budget to the desired level, and the bill became law.

The president then built on the momentum of the tax bill, and addressed civil rights. He assembled a bipartisan coalition of Northern progressives and Western senators (whose support was contingent on unrelated issues). Again, Johnson listened to the opposition, and softened or delayed some of the provisions. The result: the Civil Rights Act of 1964, prohibiting racial segregation in public facilities, which passed with a higher percentage of Republican support than Democrats.

A Lasting Legacy

The sustaining value of bipartisanship is seen in the years that followed. Voters strongly supported such collaborative problem-solving, and strengthened LBJs hand in the next election. The bridge-building of those first months set the stage for sweeping accomplishments over the next two years: the Voting Rights Act, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, among others, all with bipartisan support. Hungry children could now get a decent meal. Ailing seniors on fixed incomes could now see a doctor.

The heart-felt passion of partisans in both political parties is admirable until it morphs into a condescending certainty of holding both the moral high ground and a monopoly on legitimate perspectives. COVID is too calamitous for such hubris. Building a bipartisan approach, listening to the reasons why opponents have concerns, and resolving those issues, creates a platform for collaboration on which to build sustainable solutions to both the acute crisis of the pandemic and the chronic problems of tomorrow.

Steve ErkenBrack is an attorney in western Colorado, where he settled in 1979, after clerking at the Colorado Supreme Court. He has served as a trial attorney, as the elected District Attorney, as a health insurance CEO, and as Colorados Chief Deputy Attorney General. He was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1995. He is currently Of Counsel at Hoskin, Farina & Kampf in Grand Junction.

Link:
COVID politics: Learning from history | Columns | gjsentinel.com - The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel