insert_link South Africa City of Johannesburg Chief Whip Injured in South City Shooting During Official Council Business In a startling turn of events, Sithembiso Zungu, the Chief Whip of the City of Johannesburg, sustained injuries in a shooting incident in the southern part of the city. According to spokesperson Vusi Gumbi, Zungu was engaged in official council business when the incident occurred. The circumstances surrounding the shooting are under investigation, adding an element of concern to the incident involving a prominent municipal figure. today30 January, 2024
insert_link South Africa ANC suspends Jacob Zuma amid party dissent The ANC’s national executive committee has decided to suspend former president Jacob Zuma from the party with immediate effect. According to News24, the NEC reached a consensus on Zuma’s suspension during a late-night meeting. Secretary-general Fikile Mbalula is expected to formally notify Zuma in writing. The suspension follows Zuma’s announcement that he will not campaign or vote for the ANC following the formation of his new uMkhonto weSizwe Party. today29 January, 2024
insert_link South Africa DA Urges Gauteng Education Department to Mandate Enhanced Safety Measures for School Outings The Democratic Alliance in Gauteng is calling on the provincial Department of Education to mandate schools to implement comprehensive safety measures during outings, following the tragic passing of Latoya Temilton, a Grade Seven learner from Laerskool Queenswood in Pretoria, who drowned during a school excursion. Although the DA acknowledges the department's decision to initiate an independent investigation into the incident, Sergio dos Santos of the DA expresses deep concerns about […] today29 January, 2024
insert_link South Africa FOLLOW UP: Uncontrolled Fires Persist in Breede Valley and Witzenberg, Cape Winelands; Night Conditions Offer Some Respite In a follow-up to our previous report, wildfires in Breede Valley and Witzenberg within the Cape Winelands district continue to rage uncontrollably. However, more favorable outcomes have been observed due to cooler night temperatures and reduced wind speeds. Jo-Anne Otto, spokesperson for the Cape Winelands District Municipality, notes that the combination of hot, dry weather and available fuel, such as aged fynbos and alien vegetation, remains conducive to the fires. […] today29 January, 2024
insert_link South Africa An SA political analyst says the ANC is using the Israel/Gaza issue as an electioneering opportunity The ANC is now unashamedly and brazenly using the Israel/Gaza issue as an electioneering opportunity, without any subtlety which points to opportunism. This is the view of South African political analyst Daniel Silke. Last week, the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to stop killing and harming people in Gaza. This comes after South Africa lodged an application accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. Silke says the ANC is desperately […] today29 January, 2024
insert_link South Africa The World Court rescues international law from the Gaza rubble At the International Court of Justice, Nadeli Pandor, left, South Africa’s foreign minister, and Vusimuzi Madonsela, who led South Africa’s delegation to the reading of the court’s order concerning their country’s case accusing Israel of genocide, Jan. 26, 2024. The court found the allegations of such acts “plausible.” UN Photo/ICJ-CIJ/Frank van Beek. Courtesy of the ICJ In a speech on Dec. 4, 1997, commemorating the International Day of […] today29 January, 2024
insert_link Opinion Pieces ICJ ruling is a victory for human rights and justice “The Peace Palace, seat of the International Court of Justice, the Hague, Netherlands. The court is the principal judicial body of the United Nations.” Photo: United Nations via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Deed) By GroundUp Editors via GroundUp The ruling on Friday by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is a victory for human rights and justice. Fifteen of the seventeen judges found that South Africa made a plausible case that the dreadful […] today29 January, 2024
insert_link Opinion Pieces UN genocide ruling won’t change Israel’s behaviour: three reasons why By Anthoni van Nieuwkerk, University of South Africa South Africa took Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the latter’s military operation in Gaza, which South Africa calls acts of genocide. The excessive bombing campaign and wilful destruction of property, life and limb is hardly in dispute. Israel calls it legitimate acts of self-defense, following Hamas’s murderous incursion from Gaza on Israeli terrain on 7 October […] today29 January, 2024
insert_link South Africa Uncontrolled Fires Ravage Breede Valley and Witzenberg Areas in Cape Winelands District The Fire Services of the Cape Winelands District Municipality have reported that fires in the Breede Valley and Witzenberg areas persist uncontrollably. According to spokesperson Jo-Anne Otto, the escalation is attributed to robust north-westerly winds. The flames have intensified notably at Bains Kloof and Fairy Glen, leading to flare-ups in areas previously deemed contained. Otto expresses hope that the fire in Elandsberg will eventually extinguish itself. today29 January, 2024