February 7, 2024.

For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Trent Roebeck.

Making headlines:

South African poll shows ANC losing majority, gains for EFF

NatJoints promises safe SoNA, warns unaccredited to stay away

And, Zimbabwe cabinet scraps colonial-era death penalty law

South African poll shows ANC losing majority, gains for EFF

South Africa’s ruling party looks set to lose its outright majority in national elections for the first time since 1994, while support for the populist Economic Freedom Fighters may rise, an Ipsos poll found.

In all three scenarios outlining high, medium and low voter turnout, the African National Congress would garner less than 47% of votes, suggesting it would need a coalition with a smaller party to form a government, Ipsos said. It conducted the survey face to face with 3 600 people from October 23 to December 1 and published the results Tuesday.

“In the event of such an election outcome, the ANC would only require a party with about 4% to 6% national support as a coalition partner to establish a national government,” Ipsos said in a statement.

The results tally with a Bloomberg survey of political analysts released February 5, which showed that while the ANC risks losing its majority, it should be able to form a governing coalition with smaller parties rather than having to enlist its main rivals.

NatJoints promises safe SoNA, warns unaccredited to stay away

The National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, led by the South African Police Service, the State Security Agency and the South African National Defence Force, on Wednesday urged those not accredited or authorised to be in attendance at the 2024 State of the Nation Address to avoid the area around the Cape Town City Hall tomorrow.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is scheduled to deliver the last SoNA about which there is likely to be heightenened interest given it precedes the 2024 general elections.

NatJoints is satisfied that all deployments are in place to ensure that the SoNA takes place peacefully and safely.

The police service said that residents of Cape Town, spectators and those who were operating businesses in the vicinity of the Cape Town City Hall were also advised about road closures provided by the City of Cape Town Traffic Services ahead of the delivery of the SoNA.

Zimbabwe cabinet scraps colonial-era death penalty law

Zimbabwe's cabinet has agreed to abolish the death penalty following months of debate in parliament, choosing instead to impose lengthy prison sentences for the worst offences.

The cabinet passed a private member's bill introduced last year in the National Assembly to abolish the death penalty inherited from British colonial rule.

"In view of the need to retain the deterrent element in sentencing murderers, it is expected that the new law will impose lengthy sentences without violating the right to life," the cabinet said in a statement. "The existence of aggravating circumstances may attract life sentences."

Zimbabwe carried out its last execution in 2005.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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